DOCUMENTS 341 
XXI.—Case recorded by Dr. D. Paterne, of Blois (Anjou médical, 
September, 1897). 
“My confrère and friend Dr. Marchand (des Montils) published 
in last month’s Anjou médical an interesting case of viper-bite, 
cured by Calmette’s serum. May I send you particulars of another 
case, which can only increase the interest of the one that you have 
already published ? The facts are as follows :— 
“ Léon Bertre, aged 55, living at 17, Rue du Puits-Chatel, Blois, 
professes to be a snake-charmer, and really catches and destroys 
large numbers of dangerous reptiles in the vicinity of Blois. 
‘“ On Sunday, the 80th of last May, he went among the rocks of 
the Chaussée Saint-Victor on his favourite quest, and soon returned 
with ten large female vipers, and amused himself by exhibiting 
them to a group of interested spectators in an inn. À dog came up 
and began to bark. Bertre, whose attention was momentarily 
distracted, ceased to fix his gaze on the vipers, one of which, being 
no longer under the influence of its fascination, bit him on the 
back of the right hand, between the metacarpals of the thumb and 
index-finger. (I here reproduce the account of the occurrence as I 
received it from the snake-charmer’s own lips.) Bertre immedi- 
ately felt an acute pain; his hand swelled up almost suddenly, and, 
since he was perfectly aware of the seriousness of what had 
happened, he ran with all speed in the direction of my con- 
sulting-room. The unfortunate man, however, had hardly gone 
200 metres, when he fell insensible on the highway. He was 
brought to me, and Dr. Moreau, of Paris, locum tenens for Dr. 
Ferrand, of Blois, who was away, rendered first aid. He washed 
the wound, dressed it with perchloride of mercury, and injected 
10 c.c. of Calmette’s serum into the right flank. The accident 
took place a little before 5 p.m., and the injection was given about 
6 o'clock. 
“Dr. Moreau, who was interested in the case, asked me to 
take charge of it, which I gladly consented to do. The patient's 
general condition was very grave, since he remained two days and 
two nights without regaining consciousness. 
