THE GARDEN OF SERPENTS, BUTANTAN, BRAZIL. 



By Prof. S. Pozzi, 



Member of the Academy of Medicine, Paris, in charge of scientific expedition to Brazil and 



the Argentine Republic. 



I passed but 12 days in Brazil on my way back from Buenos Aires 

 to Europe. There is much to be said about the medical institutions 

 of the two large cities where I stopped, Rio de Janeiro and St. Paul. 

 I wish that I could express all the admiration I have for my colleagues, 

 the physicians and surgeons of Brazil, and tell of all I saw and appre- 

 ciated ; but I can cite only a few names : At Rio de Janeiro, Prof. Feijo, 

 jr., head of the faculty; Dr. Aug. Brandao, professor of gynecology; 

 Dr. Daniel d'Almeida, Dr. Magalhaes, Dr. H. de Toledo-Dodsworth, 

 Dr. Antonio Rodriguez Lima, the Drs. Hilario and Nabuco de Govea, 

 Dr. Olympio da Fonseca; the general secretary of the Academy of 

 Medicine, Dr. Aloysio de Castro, and others. At St. Paul, I would 

 mention especially the Drs. Alves de Lima; my excellent pupil, Dr. 

 Arnado Carvalho; Dr. Synesio Range! Pestana, and Dr. Oliveira 

 Botelho, formerly minister of agriculture and a distinguished gynecol- 

 ogist. Toward all I have a deep feeling of gratitude for my pleasant 

 reception. 



But I must limit myself. So I will choose from among my experi- 

 ences my visit to the antivenom therapeutic institution at Butantan 

 near St. Paul. 



This institution has at its disposal incomparable means for this 

 study and work because of its situation in a region where snakes 

 abound. Our eminent compatriot, Prof. Calmette, of Lille, one of the 

 pioneers in the scientific vaccination against snake bites, has been 

 too often impeded and limited in Ins laboratory work because of the 

 difficulty in procuring the exotic snakes whose venom was necessary 

 for his researches. At Butantan, the country people from all sides 

 bring in their captured snakes, in exchange for which they receive* 

 tubes of the beneficial serum. 



1 Abstract of a lecture given by Prof. S. Pozzi, at the Henri de Rothschild Polyclinic, Mar. 29, 1911. 

 Translated by permission from Revue Scientifique, Paris, Apr. 22, 1911. The illustrations in the origi. 

 nal paper here omitted. 



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