236 THE SNAKES OF SOUFH AFRICA. 
“ It appears that at about eleven o’clock on Tuesday morning, 
Mr. Parkin was bitten in the thumb by a Night Adder, and follow- 
ing the usual course adopted in such cases, he immediately pro- 
ceeded to suck the poison out. This seemed to have the desired 
effect, and to all appearance it seemed as though the puncture 
had been a slight one. 
“Later in the afternoon, however, his face and head com- 
menced to swell up, and Mr. Parkin’s condition became exceed- 
ingly alarming. Every possible deterrent available was tried, 
but to no effect, and death ensued at seven o’clock in the 
evening. 
“Tt is thought that some of the poison injected by the fangs 
of the Adder sucked from the wound had re-entered Mr. Parkin’s 
system by means of a scratch or bruise in the mouth or tongue, 
but this is mere surmise.”’ 
On making inquiries, I ascertained that Mr. Parkin’s head 
and throat were greatly swollen, and the muscles of the mouth, 
eyelids, and face were paralyzed. The throat continued to swell, 
and he eventually died of suffocation. If an air-tube had been 
inserted in the windpipe below the swelling, his life might have 
been saved, as the swelling would gradually have subsided. 
There can be little doubt that the deceased gentleman was 
suffering at the time from inflammation of some portion of the 
lining membranes of his mouth, or perhaps the teeth were decayed 
or the gums ulcerated or otherwise injured, which allowed 
some of the venom to be absorbed. These parts are so intensely 
susceptible to the action of venom, that a very small quantity 
will cause extensive swelling of the mouth and throat. In 
medical literature, cases are recorded of men dying of suffocation 
caused by extensive swelling of the throat consequent upon the 
sting of a hornet, wasp, or bee, which had been accidentally 
swallowed with some beverage, and, in passing, stung the back 
of the throat. 
If sucking is resorted to in cases of snake bite, when the 
person is not sure his mouth is in good condition, he should put 
a tiny pinch of crystals of permanganate of potash in the palm 
of his hand, spit on them, mix and lick it, just previous to applying 
his mouth to the wound. The permanganate will kill any venom 
sucked up. Of course, if permanganate is rubbed into the 
wounds, and if they are subsequently sucked, there will be no 
