_TREATMENT OF SNAKE BITE 903 
4.—To prevent infection of the wound. Instruments 
used should be sterilized as well as time and circumstances 
will permit, and an antiseptic dressing should be applied. 
When a person has been bitten by a rattlesnake waste 
no time. The first few moments are precious, so keep cool 
and remember that about 90 people recover out of every 
hundred bitten. 
A poisonous snake in biting usually makes two punctured 
wounds. Suck these hard for not more than five seconds. 
Then tie a handkerchief, a sock, a suspender strap, a strong 
piece of cloth, or a rope very loosely about the arm or leg 
a few inches above the bite. Put a strong stick under this 
bandage and twist the stick until the bandage is so tight that 
its pressure on the arteries stops the flow of blood completely. 
Paint the skin about the bite with iodine. With a small 
knife, dipped in an iodine solution if possible, cut open each 
of the punctures made by the fangs. Cut deep, lengthwise 
of the limb. Cup or suck the wounds thoroughly, remem- 
bering that the venom is harmless in the mouth or stomach. 
Now prepare the syringe and the solution of permanganate 
or of chromic acid, one part to 100 parts of water. Using a 
needle about three quarters of an inch long inject a few 
syringefuls of the solution under the skin and into the 
deeper tissues close to the wounds and for an inch or more 
about them. Then press your fingers hard on the parts 
injected, pressing toward the wounds. 
All these things should be done without any loss of time. 
If you have not already sent for a doctor, and are not too 
far from one, arrange now to secure medical aid. 
The wound should be protected with an antiseptic dress- 
ing, or it may be washed with iodine or alcohol and covered 
with sterile gauze. 
The tight bandage about the limb may cause considerable 
pain, but it must not be removed for several hours. It must, 
