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, 



