396 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Of course anti-venomous serum has its limitations. It will 
not perform miracles. It has the power of neutralizing the 
poisonous properties of snake venom if mixed with the poison in 
sufficient quantity. If injected into the blood it will destroy the 
poisonous properties of the venom therein, in proportion to the 
amount injected. 
Now, it is quite apparent that if the nerve centres have been 
poisoned and benumbed beyond the possibility of recovery, 
or if the blood corpuscles be broken up, and extensive hemorrhage 
into the tissues has taken place, the injection of anti-venene 
would be useless. However, it is practically impossible to 
know for certain if the venom has acted upon the nervous 
system, brain and blood, sufficiently to make death a cer- 
tainty, therefore while life remains the anti-venene should be 
injected. 
In all cases where serious symptoms of poisoning have 
developed, the anti-venene should be injected direct into a vein 
so that it may enter the circulation with the least possible delay, 
for at such a critical time every moment is precious. When 
life’s forces are slowing down, the absorbent or sucking-up 
power of the small blood vessels (capillaries) and lymphatics is 
sluggish, and in some cases suspended. 
If the fangs of a venomous snake should puncture a vein 
and venom be discharged therein, the poisonous effects are 
so rapid that death takes place in spite of the injection of anti- 
venene. In fact in these cases the patient is usually dead 
before the serum can be injected, even if it be at hand. Fortu- 
nately such cases are not common. 
Anti-venene, if injected, will render a man more or less immune 
to snake bite for several days. Its antidotal power, however, 
grows less daily. In no case does it confer any degree of 
immunity for more than three weeks. Hunters and others who 
are about to run grave risk of snake bite, would do well to inject 
themselves previously with a dose or two of anti-venene. Some- 
times a sort of nettle rash appears about the sites of the injections. 
This, however, need occasion no alarm. It will pass off in a few 
days. 
Anti-venene is a watery fluid, and when injected, is absorbed 
and mingles with the natural serum of the blood. Many have 
expressed fear lest its injection might do harm if introduced 
