426 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
contamination, and would be quite harmless if given subcu- 
taneously. 
For obvious reasons, it would not be safe to inject a preci- 
pitate of any kind direct into a vein, hence the necessity for 
filtering the serum through a clean cloth before injection into 
a vein. 
(9) Be sure that your syringe is in good working order, so 
that it will take up a charge of serum without any difficulty. 
(10) The serum contains no toxic or poisonous substances 
of any kind. 
(11) It does no harm if injected, and it is subsequently dis- 
covered that the snake which inflicted the bite was a harmless one. 
(12) The bottles of serum should be kept in the dark, and in 
the coolest place in the house. Heat and light are the two chief 
causes in bringing about a deterioration in the strength of the 
antitoxic properties of the serum. 
(13) When kept in a dark and cool place, the serum loses very 
little of its antitoxic properties in a year—probably not more 
than 5 per cent., even if as much. An increase of dose would 
make up for this loss. 
(14) Sometimes a kind of nettle-rash appears on the skin 
after the subcutaneous injection of serum. This will disappear 
in a day or two, and need cause no alarm. 
(15) Serum injected in excess does no harm. Oecasionally 
what is known as serum sickness (anaphylaxis) supervenes, but 
this is shght. 
(x6) If nervous about injecting serum direct into a vein, then 
inject copiously under the skin in bad cases. Use even as much 
as 50 cubic centimetres (nearly 2 oz.) if necessary. 
SECONDARY TREATMENT FOR SNAKE BITE, EFFECTIVE IN 
ALL SERIOUS CASES, 
Now, we will suppose the punctures have been thoroughly 
scarified, permanganate of potash rubbed in, a ligature applied, 
and the patient is now at home, and has been injected with 
anti-venene serum and the ligature removed. He must be 
stripped and put into bed at once, and kept warm. Apply 
hot-water bags to his feet, stomach, and chest. If none 
are available, fill stone jars, bottles, or anything handy 
