On Diseases and Accidents of Farmers. 231 



not possess the power, of either preventing or curing the 

 disease. As regards a cure, they make no pretensions : 

 their boasted siccess is confined solely to prevention, but 

 it is a well established fact, that as many persons who 

 took no remedy have escaped, as those who have under- 

 gone a long course of preventive medicines. Even a sa- 

 livation, long continued, has repeatedly failed. 



Bites of Snakes. — Tie a string above the bitten part, 

 and suck the wound. There is not the least dan- 

 ger in so doing, unless the lips be sore ; spit out, and 

 rinse the mouth with water. Then use some of the fol- 

 lowing remedies, all of which have been found successful. 



1. Apply ley of wood ashes, or a solution of potash 

 in water, to the bitten part : and give diluted ley, or ten 

 grains of potash in a cup of water, every half hour.^ 



2. Mr. Mayrant of South Carolina, relates the cases of 

 two negroes cured, by giving Cayenne pepper and vvhis- 

 key.f In one, the dose was one tea-spoonful, in a glass 

 of whiskey. The three first does were thrown up ; the 

 fourth remained, and after more than a quart of whiskey 

 had been taken, the man spoke. This great quantity was 

 taken in two hours. In the course of the night, three 

 quarts were used, but he supposes that one may have 

 been lost, in pouring it down his throat. The next day 

 he gave every hour, spirit of ammonia, and also whiskey 

 and water, with very nourishing food. In another case, 

 he cured a person after giving a quart of whiskey, with 

 red pepper, in ten or twelve hours. 



Dr. Ramsay of Charleston, S. C. published the case 

 of a person who was cured by large doses of brandy and 

 opium. 



* Dr. Brickell of Savannah. To sheath the acrimony of the 

 ley or potash, it should be diluted with infusion of flax-seed, 

 or gum arable water. 



t Med. Recorder, vol. 6, p. 619, 



