THE ALCOHOL CURE FOR SNAKE BITE. 325 
way, it would not be likely to do so if rubbed into a wound or 
swallowed. ° 
THE ALCOHOL CURE FOR SNAKE BITE. 
Of the many popular “‘ cures”’ for snake bite, alcohol is one 
of the most widespread. In South Africa it is universally 
believed to exert a strong curative effect in cases of snake bite. 
In Australia and America the popular faith in this substance 
is equally strong. Unfortunately, however, when subjected to 
careful scientific experimentation alcohol is found to have no 
antidotal power in snake venom poisoning. The belief in 
alcohol is so strong that if it be at hand, no other means of 
averting a fatal issue is thought of. The patient is plied with 
brandy or whisky until he is unable to swallow any more. Often 
one, two, and three bottles of brandy are given, and as likely 
as not without being previously diluted with water. The idea 
is that if the patient can be intoxicated, he will be saved. In 
cases of snake bite the nervous centres are more or less benumbed, 
and the stomach is often incapable of absorbing much, if any 
liquid which may enter it. If the nerve centres are already 
benumbed by snake venom, the alcohol will naturally fail to 
have any effect upon them. If the stomach is inert through 
the paralysis of the gastric nerve centres, then all or most of the 
alcohol will lie in the stomach unabsorbed. This is why alcoholic 
intoxication does not always follow after the administration of 
even a whole bottle of brandy. However, if the snake venom 
symptoms be only slight, or if the patient is beginning to rally 
from the effects of the venom, then the alcohol will begin to 
produce intoxication, and the patient will soon be drunk and 
incapable. If the alcohol does not succeed in destroying his 
life, he will in due course wake up from his drunken stupor, 
apparently cured. 
The administration of large doses of alcohol to any one 
whose body has not been accustomed to strong doses of this 
poisonous drug, will either cause death or serious damage. The 
delicate lining membrane of the stomach may be so extensively 
burned that subsequent inflammation of the stomach may cause 
death ; or if recovery should take place, the digestive powers 
are ruined for life, owing to the destruction of large patches of 
