British Association for the Advancement of Science. 275 
_ From these facts, it will be easy to explain the-doubtful — 
tion of various remedies for the bites of our venomous se . 
Those enumerated by Daudin, seem to have been nearly all pa 
sight of by medical men and naturalists, with the exception of the 
Hieracium venosum. Perhaps most of our “snake roots,” the Aris- 
tolochia serpentaria, Polygala senega, Cimicifuga racemosa, owe 
their cognomen to a similar source. Still, it was thought a duty 
to medical science to preserve and compare the apparent fact of 
the agency of a medicinal plant, to extend science and facilitate 
future inquiries. -'The appropriate method of treatment would 
seem to be nearly that pointed out by Fontana; viz. a moderately 
tight ligature, and suction, with some force and for a prolonged 
period. It must be conceded that the venom, unless removed by 
suction, is gradually absorbed into the general system; and that 
the real object of the ligature is not the impracticable purpose of 
preventing this, but that of allowing time enough for the gradual 
introduction of the poison by the capillaries, and its progressive 
removal by the emunctories. Finally, as two hours were found 
by Fontana to be sufficient with the viper, conjecture or analogy 
would probably allow us to consider our precautions against the 
rattlesnake as sufficient in six or seven hours. It will probably 
be still right for us to make further trial of antidotes; nor can 
any circumstance render useless, such varying treatment as the 
incidents of the case may call for in the mind of a 
ne 
Arr. VIIL—An Account of the Proceedings of the Highth Meet- 
ing of the Firsts Association fr the Advancement of Science: 
‘Tue eig th meeting of this noble institution was held at New 
castle, nie the week from the 20th to the 26th of August, 
1838. The attendance was unusually large, and the interest ex- 
cited was in no degree inferior to that exhibited on former ocea- 
sions. 
such high authorities, it appeared to form too valuable an addition to the state- 
ments in the text to justify omission. Mr. Hembel and the late Professor Benja- 
min Smith Barton, made inquiries of a considerable number of Indian chiefs of 
_ The reply was uniform, “that “it was never mortal, because they had antidotes.” 
‘The comments already made are Falaabs sufficient. 
