Chapter 



GENERAL INFORMATION 



Personnel of the U.S. Niivy and Marine Corps 

 may find themselves stationed or visiting in many 

 parts of the world, i^articularly the countries 

 bordering the oceans. In some of these countries, 

 snakebite is a significant public health hazard. 

 The risk of being bitten increases during amphib- 

 ious oijerations, especially in tropical and sub- 

 tropical regions. During such operations the 

 natural habitat of venomous snakes may be dis- 

 turbed so that exposuie to tliem is markedly in- 

 creased. 



American militaiy forces have never experi- 

 enced casualty rates from snake venom poisoning 

 sufficiently liigh to jeopardize the outcome of an 

 operation. However, the threat of .snakebite may 

 create a morale problem sufficient to delay an 

 operation or cause unnecessary fear during its 

 execution. While snakebite has been rare and 

 fatalities therefrom have been even more uncom- 

 mon in tlie mililai'v forces, it does constitute a 

 meiliral emergency i i'(|iiiriiig immediate atleiilinn 

 and consideraI)lc judgmeni in management. 



This manual is designed to facilitate identifica- 

 tion of the major groups (genera) of poisonous 

 snakes and to identify the most dangerous species. 

 It is not practical to by-pass the specialized ter- 

 minology of herpetology completely, but herpeto- 

 logical terms are a\oided whenever possible. 



Tliose lliat are used are defined in tlie glossary 

 or are evident from examination of the figures. 



Geographic definitions of regions discussed are 

 provided because of differences in the use of such 

 words as Middle luisf. Soufhcuxf Asm. Xrar East, 

 et eefera. Snakes found in more than one re- 

 gion are listed in each. 



A second aim of the manual is to give sugges- 

 tions for preventing snakebite, aiul a third aim 

 is to indicate practical first aid measures sliould 

 snakebite occur. Principles and procedures for 

 medical management of snake venom poisoning 

 are discussed, l)ut it is not a purpose of this 

 maniKil to evaluate all of the varied and some- 

 tinu>s conflicting therapeutic regimens that have 

 ap])eared in the medical literature. 



A list of general references is incliuled at the 

 end of the manual, and most chapters and sec- 

 tions are followed l)y a list of specific references. 

 A space I'oi' noles will be fomid at the end of 

 iiiosi rhaptiTs and sect inns. This may be \ised 

 I'm- additional references and information gained 

 iindcr local conditions. 



The index has been prepared as a majnr source 

 of information. Many local or vernacular names 

 are foiuid oidi/ in tiie index, where they ai'e re- 

 ferred to the scientific name of the species. 



