400 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH. AFRICA: 
will prove a good object-lesson in showing just how the serum 
would spread, if injected. 
Knowledge makes a man confident. It is the lack of knowing 
just what to do when faced with an emergency that makes him 
“lose his head.”’ 
Anti-venene serum is the only substance for secondary 
treatment recommended by science as possessing curative value 
in cases of snake bite, and which can be injected under the 
skin without any risk. There is an element of risk in injecting 
it direct into a vein. This will be explained later. 
If bitten by an unknown snake, it is advisable to inject a 
dose of serum if any be at hand. It will do no harm if the snake 
should happen to be a harmless one, and will serve the purpose 
of allaying the nervous dread of the bitten person. It is at times 
difficult to distinguish the symptoms produced by nerve-shock 
exhibited by most people bitten by snakes, and the real symptoms 
of snake venom poisoning, especially that of the Cobra which 
acts mainly upon the nervous system. 
THE TREATMENT OF SNAKE BITE. 
What to do if bitten. 
The most practical thing to do if bitten by a snake is to 
prevent the absorption of the venom into the general circula- 
tion. If a large dose of venom should get into the body it will 
be pumped by the heart to the remotest parts. So we must 
immediately attack the venom at the spot where it has been 
injected. 
There is very little chance of preventing at least some of the 
venom getting into the blood circulation, but that will not matter 
provided a fatal dose has not been absorbed. Every moment 
is precious, as the venom after its injection under the skin is 
being greedily sucked up through the walls of the tiny blood 
vessels and absorbent lymphatic channels. 
Knowing that permanganate of potash destroys any venom 
it may actually come in contact with, it is presumed you will 
have some at hand. A sharp penknife and a small tube or 
pill-box full of permanganate should be carried by everybody 
who runs any risk of snake bite. In a country like that of South 
