ANTIDOTES. 197 
tally. The Guaco does not seem to be more unfortunate as 
a specific than a thousand other remedies and patent medi- 
cines. 
There are several varieties of this plant, known as the Mo- 
rado (purple), Blanco (white), Cruceta (so called from the ar- 
rangement of its stems in the form of a cross), and the Real 
(royal). Its juice is very bitter, and it is often used by the 
country people as a febrifuge and vermifuge, with apparently 
good effects in some few cases. 
Respectable authorities* advise the use of Spirits of Am- 
monia. J have never known of its application in a single 
case to have been followed by any apparent benefit. To test 
its virtues I made the following experiments: A female of the 
Mapana Saps (Lachesis) species, which was caught alive in 
Norosi, was allowed to bite a pup of 3 months old, which 
died in 5 minutes. Another pup of the same litter was pre- 
sented to the reptile, and was bitten twice; Hartshorn was 
instantly applied to the wound, and a small quantity (10 drops) 
was administered in half a tumbler of water, but death en- 
sued in 10 minutes. The day following another pup of the 
same litter was caused to be bitten, and after allowing one 
minute to elapse, that the poison might take full effect, one 
drop of Bungarus Lachesis, one-tenth, was administered in a 
small quantity of water, and one drop of the same antidote 
was put upon one of the wounds after opening it crosswise 
with a lancet; in an hour’s time the pup was frolicking about 
as though nothing had happened it, and three months after- 
wards it was still alive and well. 
The day following our last experiment this same snake bit 
a bitch that had had four or five litters of pups, and she died 
in less than an hour after receiying the bite, 
* See page 143 for report of cases cured by Prof. Halford, 
