TREATMENT OF SNAKE BITE 291 
CHLORIDE OF GOLD, HYPOCHLORITES OF ALKALIES AND CHLORIDE 
OF CALCIUM. 
As energetic destroyers of snake venom in loco, chloride of gold, hypo- 
chlorites of alkalies, and chloride of calcium have been recommended by 
Calmette ! for local treatment of snake bites. If promptly injected 1 per 
cent solution of chloride of gold and hypochlorites of alkalies can destroy the 
activity of various snake venoms and save the animals from death. These 
reagents have the advantage over many other venom-destroying chemicals 
of being less caustic on the tissues into which they are injected.” 
Chloride of calcium, freshly dissolved in a ratio of 2 gm. per 100 c.c. of water, 
and having the titration of go c.c. of gaseous chlorine per 100 gm., is most 
highly recommended by Calmette. Owing to the easy diffusibility of chlorine 
gas to a considerable distance from the spot of injection the venom is quickly 
destroyed by the lime solution, even after absorption commences. 
The simultaneous application of an elastic ligature is also recommended. 
Certain acids seem to have more or less pronounced destructive action upon 
snake venom. Kaufmann* recommends the local application of chromic 
acid — in 1 per cent solution — for the purpose of postponing the lethal effect 
of venom. The local irritating properties are completely destroyed by this 
reagent, but not the toxic properties. 
The early work of Weir Mitchell also indicates the destructive action of 
certain acids upon the hemorrhagic principles of crotalus venom, although 
he did not recommend the acid as a practical means of combating the effects 
of the venom. 
Recently Morgenroth found that guinea-pigs which had received some 
lethal doses of crotalus venom into the peritoneum can be saved from death by 
prompt injection of dilute hydrochloric acid. I was able to confirm this 
phenomenon. But how much benefit can be derived from the acid treatment 
in the subcutaneous venom-poisoning remains to be seen. 
GENERAL MEDICAMENTATION. 
Fayrer and Brunton recommended the administration of strychnine as a 
means of prolonging the life of the bitten person. This notion is derived 
from their experiments on the beneficial effect of artificial respiration on snake 
poisoning, when strychnine, as a cardiac and respiratory stimulant, was thus 
introduced. Feoktistow as well as Aron failed to discover any curative in- 
fluence either by the artificial respiration or the injection of strychnine. Aron 
also tested the effect of atropin and caffein without obtaining any beneficial 
result. Feoktistow thinks that the use of strychnine and caffein should be 
forbidden because of the danger of increasing hemorrhage through the rise 
1Calmette. Contribution a l’étude du venin des serpents. Ann. Institut Pasteur, 1894, VIII, 275; 
also, Les venins. Paris, 1907. 
2 Martin and Lamb state the danger of slough from the injections of these chemicals. 
3 Kaufmann. Sur le venin de vipére. Bull. Soc. Centr. de Méd. vet. Par., 1889, n. s., VI, 187. C. 
R. Soc. Biol., 1894, 10 ser., I, 113. 
