534 SNAKES. 



severely hauled over the coals for ' boasting of an antidote, 

 when it accidentally transpired that he had been experiment- 

 ing on himself * with a view to discovering, 7tot an antidote, 

 but a prophylactic against the venom,' to use his own words. ^ 



More recently still permanganate of potash has been 

 announced as an antidote ; and no doubt in some cases it 

 has proved a successful remedy, as occasionally, but not 

 invariably, other treatments have been. There still, how- 

 ever, appears to be the same lack of substantial evidence 

 with regard to its being an 'infallible antidote' in the 

 chemical acceptation of the term ; and indeed as venoms 

 themselves vary, a remedy that might prove effectual in one 

 case might fail in another. Dr. Stradling, than whom 

 perhaps few are more competent to offer opinions on the 

 subject (he having for five or six years subjected himself to 

 experiments and carefully noted the effects on his own 

 person, as others have noted the effects on animals and birds 

 bitten), says that you might as well hunt through the 

 pharmacopeia for a drug that will be a specific in every kind 

 of fever, or ' to look for a general antidote to opium, 

 strychnine, bella donna, arsenic, and mercury poisoning,' 

 as to expect to find one antidote for every kind of snake 

 venom. ' When we know how many different venoms there 

 are, we may look for an antidote to each,' he has explained. 



Years ago the venoms were classed under the heads of 



Viperijie, Echidnine, Crotalinc, etc.; but Dr. Stradling states 



that he has found very different venoms in Crotahis Jiorridiis 



and Crotalus dnrisstLs, and that he prepared himself differently 



for each species of snake with which he experimented, 



•* Land and Water, September 1 1, iSSo. 



