310 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
APPARENT CURES. 
In the past I have treated, and seen treated, many cases of 
snake bite. It was in the days when little or nothing was 
known of the present approved methods of treatment. I had 
strong faith in alcohol, strychnine, ammonia, and one or two 
proprietary substances, the active principle of which, I after- 
wards ascertained, was either ammonia or strychnine, or both. 
Many of the cases so treated were practically ‘“‘ cured” twelve 
or twenty-four hours after treatment. I have often seen the 
same thing occur when native “ cures’ were applied. 
THE REASON WHY. 
However, when I began the serious study of snakes and 
their venom, I found that.a large percentage of the snakes of 
South Africa were non-venomous, many others were only veno- 
mous to a slight degree, and others powerfully venomous. Now, 
a harmless snake, or a slightly venomous one will, in nearly all 
cases, instantly bite if trodden upon or roughly handled. Some 
of them are actually vicious, and will lunge fiercely at any one 
coming near to them. The commonest place to be bitten is 
upon the hand. In gardening work, removing lumber, and in 
a multitude of other out-of-door occupations, the hands are em- 
ployed in moving, turning over, carrying, etc. If the fingers 
should touch a snake, or the hand come within striking distance 
of it, the reptile will often lunge with gaping jaws and inflict a 
» wound. The victim sees the snake bite him. That is enough 
for him. He rushes off in terror, forthwith swallows all the 
brandy, whisky, or gin he is able to imbibe, or perhaps other 
“cures’’ are applied. If the strong spirit does not poison 
him, or cause acute inflammation of the stomach and death, 
he recovers and swears ever after that he drank a bottle or 
two of spirits and it cured him. If the cure should happen 
to be some simple remedy, such as native “ mooti,” or 
something else recommended by a neighbour, and he finds he 
is none the worse for the bite, he is never weary of advocating 
the treatment, whatever its nature might have been, although 
in all probability the snake which bit him was one of the harmless 
species. 
