132 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



to have been an instinctive act; for not only does tradition relate that it 

 was in use in ancient limes and among savage nations, but history in- 

 forms us that it has been resorted to more recently. Among the nota- 

 ble instances of which may be mentioned that of Queen Eleanor, wife 

 of Edward I, who, it is stated, sucked the wound which her husband 

 received from a poisoned dagger in the war of the Crusades, thereby 

 preserving his lite. * 



The application of ligatures around a member bitten, as it retards 

 absorption, has the same effect as introducing the poison in divided 

 doses, and at longer intervals of time. In this way quantities might 

 safely be received, which, if carried at once into the blood, would prove 

 quickly fatal. 



Cupping-glasses exhausted over the wound act in the same manner, 

 with the additional advantage, that by drawing fluids from the part they 

 may remove at least a portion of the venom. 



The value of these means has been tested by numerous experimeiUs 

 upon various animals and with different classes of poisons. 



Of the applications resorted to, aqua ammonia is that mostly relied 

 upon. But Fontana found that mixing it with the venom of vipers only 

 hastened deatli. He also found that alcohol, oil, the mineral acids, and 

 alkalies, (except caustic potash, which instantly destroys the tissues,) 

 nitrate of silver, incisions in the part, and even amputating the member 

 bitten, did not prevent a fatal termination. 



In my experiments with the rattlesnake I have found that mixing the 

 venom with alcohol, oil of turpentine, nitrate of silver in solution, or 

 ammonia, did not diminish its activity. 



The solutions of soda and potash have no effect in retarding its action, 

 unless sufficiently strong to destroy the tissues by acting as a caustic. 



My Iriend, Dr. J. C. Morfit, who aided me in my experiments, tried 

 Hquor potasste, a solution of bicarb, of soda, tincture of arnica, and am- 

 monia in water. The result ol my observation is, that to the present 

 time no substance has been found in any degree capable of neutralizing 

 the venom of the serpent or the woorara, without destro^ang the part 

 bitten, except the solution of iodine, and iodide of potassium, in v/ater. 

 Of the virtues of this solution I shall have occasion to speak hereafter. 



Alcohol taken internally to intoxication has at the present time the 

 reputation of counteracting the effects of the venom of the rattlesnake. 



The evidence in its favor is scarcely sufficient to justify the confi- 

 dence reposed in it, as the following facts will show : 



1st. The venom, when mixed with alcohol, is rapidly fatal if inocu- 

 lated. 



2d. Alcohol introduced into the stomach of birds or animals bitten 

 hastens death. 



3d. Persons bitten by rattlesnakes when in a state of intoxication are 

 not, on that account, secure. 



I have authentic information ot" several cases in which the bite of 

 that serpent proved rapidly fatal on intoxicated persons. I think it cer- 

 tain, however, that the effect of alcohol taken in this way is beneficial 

 rather than injurious ; but this is not my belief in regard to ammonia, 

 which I think calculated to favor the action of the poison rather than 

 retard it. 



