1896.] on Immunisation against Serpents' Venom. 129 



It has thus been shown that venomous serpents themselves possess 

 a definite substance in the blood-serum which is capable of protect- 

 ing them against their own venom, and the venom of other serpents. 

 The results of the experiments made by stomach administration of 

 venom, supply at the same time an explanation of one, at least, of the 

 methods by which this substance is introduced into the blood. This 

 natural antivenene, however, is apparently not so powerfully anti- 

 dotal as the antivenene obtained by the process of artificial 

 protection. 



The foregoing statements, although referring mainly to observa- 

 tions on the lower animals, have, probably in every particular, a very 

 direct bearing upon both the prophylaxis and treatment of snake- 

 poisoning in man. 



Some little consideration of the details of the application of the 

 antivenene and the employment of auxiliary measures may, however, 

 be serviceable ; and, equally of practical service, some consideration 

 of the probable limitations to the capacity of antivenene as an 

 antidote. 



In the meantime, I cannot adduce any actual experience of its use 

 in human beings, as although a considerable quantity,! both in the 

 liquid and dry state, was last summer sent to India, and a smaller 

 quantity to Africa, no opportunity for using it as an antidote has as 

 yet occurred in the districts to which it had been sent. 



But, first, let me say in regard to the altogether unsatisfactory 

 experience of the use of medicines, ordinarily so-called, that I am not 

 prepared to take the extreme position that no good can be done by 

 their employment. While the evidence shows that no one of the very 

 large number of those that have been recommended as antidotes is 

 able, in any conditions of administration, to prevent death after the 

 reception of even the smallest lethal dose of venom, it still may be 

 that, by the physiological effects which they produce, they may assist 

 any efficient antidote, such as antivenene, in preventing death ; and 

 also, by prolonging life, increase the opportunity for a more thorough 

 use of this antidote. In this category I would especially place 

 medicines which increase excretion, such as diaphoretics and diuretics ; 

 many of the rapidly acting stimulants of the circulation, such as 

 alcohol and the old snake-remedy, ammonia ; and stimulants of 

 respiration, such as atropine and strychnine, the latter of which is 

 enthusiastically championed by Dr. A. Mueller, of Sydney. And 

 not only medicines, but also any measures that are available for 

 these purposes, including artificial respiration, so distinctly indicated 

 as a probably valuable therapeutical application in snake- bite by 

 Fayrer and Brunton, which, though shown by the Indian Snake Com- 

 mission to be incapable of preventing death when alone trusted to, 

 was also shown to possess the valuable auxiliary power of prolonging 

 life. 



The first measure, however, that is usually and properly taken in 

 the treatment of snake-bite, is to restrict, as far as is possible, the 



Vol. XV. (No. 90.) k 



