322 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
experiments are conducted as humanely as possible, the end, I 
think, more than justifies the means. In this case thousands 
of colonists and tens of thousands of natives, if not millions, have 
absolute faith in the antidotal properties of “‘ Zibiba.” The 
inevitable result is that, instead of approved remedies being 
applied, such, for instance, as those advocated in this book, this 
worthless ‘‘ Zibiba’”’ or some other equally useless stuff is 
administered by the victim’s friends, a native “ doctor,’ or 
applied by himself. No other treatment is thought to be neces- 
sary. Thus valuable human lives are lost—lives which could 
easily be saved. 
As far as I can ascertain, “‘ Zibiba’’ contains no medicinal 
substance which is of a nature to be rapidly absorbed by the 
mucous membrane of the stomach, or the absorbent vessels 
under the skin. When mixed with snake venom it does not 
destroy its poisonous properties. If it has not this effect outside 
the body it would not be likely to have the contrary effect within 
the body. 
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 
If people would only make themselves acquainted with the 
nature of snake venom, approved antidotes, the treatment of 
snake bite, the nature of the venom of each species, how to 
distinguish venomous from slightly venomous or non-venomous 
snakes, fewer deaths would take place amongst human beings 
and stock from snake bite, and the almost universal fear and 
dread of snakes would be much lessened. So strong is this dread 
of snakes and their venom that many cases are on record of 
people collapsing and dying after being bitten by non-venomous 
snakes. I have not seen cases of people actually dying, but I 
have seen them in a state of great nervous collapse simply through 
fear and dread, induced by the firm belief that death was likely 
to occur, 
Zibiba, I am informed, is known by different names in various 
parts of the country. What those synonyms are I have been 
unable to ascertain. Colonists, or most of them who keep some 
of this alleged snake-bite remedy, simply call it “ Kafir 
mooti.”’ f 
