76 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 
The temperament of different species of poisonous snakes also influences 
the degree of danger. For example, the comparatively slight mortality from 
rattlesnakes is often due to insufficient erection of their fangs before the blow 
is given. According to Weir Mitchell, seven-eighths of all cases of rattlesnake 
poisoning will recover. On the other hand, Vipera russellii and Bitis arietans, 
give special pressure to their bites by the violent motion of their entire body. 
The deaths caused by the European vipers, chiefly Vipera berus, are few. 
In nine years (from 1883 to 1892) 14 fatal cases out of 216 bites are reported 
in Germany, while in Switzerland, in nine years (1877-1886), 7 deaths are 
reported. The vipers of southern Europe are not so fatal as the common 
Pelias of the northern countries. Fontana described 2 fatal cases out of 62, 
and 80 to go deaths have been reported since the time of Fontana; but half 
of this number were children. According to Viaud-Grand Marais, 44 deaths 
out of 316 cases occurred in the Vendée and the Département Loire-inférieure, 
or 14 per cent mortality. Some large animals, such as the horse, ass, and cow, 
are also fatally poisoned when vipers strike at the nose, lips or tongue. Goats 
and sheep are said to be more frequently killed by the vipers than cattle. 
The depth and locality of the wound are important conditions; the deeper 
the wound the more dangerous the results. Wounds in the face, especially 
in the lips and tongue, are more dangerous than in the limbs, while bites upon 
the fingers or toes are also very dangerous, owing to the fact that the fangs can 
be driven deeper into the tissue. 
The time intervening between the bite and death varies in different venoms. 
The quickest fatal cases reported are 2 minutes in acrotalus bite (Barton) 
and 5 minutes in a Javanese snake bite (Kiihl). In these cases the venoms 
were most probably thrown directly into the blood circulation. 
As to the time of death after the bite Fayrer gives the following statistics, 
based on 65 fatal cases of cobra poisoning: 22.96 per cent died less than 2 
hours after the bite; 24.53 per cent died between 2 and 6 hours thereafter; 
23.05 per cent died between 6 and 12 hours thereafter; 9.39 per cent died 
between 12 and 24 hours thereafter; 21.10 per cent died after 24 hours. 
The bite of the famous Lachesis lanceolatus of Martinique causes death 
generally after one or two days and very seldom earlier than 6 hours from 
the time of the bite. With some species of Lachesis death may occur after 
2 to 5, or even as late as ro days. Death from the bite of Crotalus may occur 
even after 16 days (Home). The viperine bites, excepting certain tropical 
genera, are not quickly fatal, but cause marked local and general disturbances, 
which bring about death after days, weeks, or months; but when the venom 
gets into the circulatory system death may occur more quickly under the 
symptoms of the sudden loss of consciousness, delirium, tetanus, and trismus. 
When death follows after a long period, the anatomical changes, such as 
hemorrhage and local necrosis, are always pronounced. Even when patients 
recover, local paralysis of most diverse parts of body may persist a long time, 
together with various local manifestations in the portions of the bitten side. 
Pareesthesia of various kinds, pemphigoid eruptions, and pain are the sequel. 
