THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 131 



may be, though I regard it important in proportion as it has capacities 

 for useful application. 



One might indeed devote himself to the pursuit of some of the natu- 

 ral sciences for the inherent pleasure which it affords. 



But the study of the venom of serpents and its effects would be 

 surrounded by lew attractions, were it not that the knowledge thus 

 acquired may be made available for the relief of some of the severest 

 accidents to which man is subject. 



The experiments upon birds and animals required to carry out these 

 researches are painful, and can only be justified by the benefit which 

 results from their performance. 



In this country there is fortunately less occasion than in some others 

 for defending the study of the piactical applications of science, as the 

 genius of the people, and their habits, tend to practical results rather 

 than abstract researches. It is indeed possible that to many scientific 

 men of our country the classic fable of Atalanta, who, in turning aside 

 to seize the golden apple, lost the prize of the race, may not be inap- 

 plicable. 



In reference to the venom of the rattlesnake there is much need that 

 further investigations should be instituted. 



It is a substance for winch, as I have already said, no antidote has 

 hitherto been known, and concerning the nature of which no adequate 

 researches have ever been made. 



What is required is a series of experiments in regard to it similar to 

 those which Fontana performed with the viper. 



The treatment resorted to for serpent bites varies in different coun- 

 tries, that remedy being generally selected which tradition or accident 

 may have suggested ; and it would be a waste of time to enumerate all 

 those inert or deleterious articles whose use has been recommended 

 even in books of medicine and surgery. It may suffice to say, under 

 this head, that scarcely any substance can be named so inert as not to 

 have been recommended, or so disgusting as not to have been em- 

 ployed ; nor is any practice so absurd as not to have found favor with 

 the profession. 



Among them may be mentioned burymg the member bitten in fresh 

 earth, thrusting it into the entrails of animals, or even putting the whole 

 body of the patient into an ox laid open for the purpose — practices 

 which, as they are either cooling or sweating, are not destitute of plausi- 

 ble reasons in their favor. 



Arsenic, in the fi^rm of the Tanjore pill, has been extensively used 

 by British practitioners both in the East and West Indies; but although 

 many successful cases were cited in its favor, it has fallen into disuse. 



Among intelligent physicians of the present day the treatment con- 

 sists in washing the part, sucking it, or applying cups, to extract the 

 poison, using caustic for the purpose of destroying it, while stimulants, 

 such as ammonia and alcohol, are administered internally. 



Of these means, washing, applying ligatures upon the members, and 

 cupping, are those alone whose utility has been well established by 

 reason and experience. 



That the removal of as much as possible of the venom from the 

 wound is useful, is self-evident, and sucking it for this purpose seems 



