THE EQUINE HOSPITAL FORMULARY. 39 



'In this case no preventive measures were taken, but in 

 the second case the efficacy of permanganate of potassium 

 was tested. A second dog was bitten about a week after- 

 wards by the same puff-adder. In this case the bite was 

 also unmistakable ; the bite was, in fact, made with some 

 vehemence. 



'At 9.50 a.m. — The dog was bitten on the internal 

 aspect of one hind-leg. 



* At 9.55 a.m. — He was again bitten in the nose. 



*At 10.15 a.m. — We injected subcutaneously, under the 

 skin of the nose, and in other places, sixty minims or more 

 of very strong, freshly-raade solution of permanganate of 

 potassium. 



'At 10.30 a.m. — The dog became uneasy, frequently 

 shaking his head and changing his position. 



'At 10.43 a.m. — No apparent sign of injury. 



'At 12.15 p.m. — The dog is si eejjing gently, but appar- 

 ently is not very much out of sorts. 



' The dog made a complete and permanent recovery. The 

 seat of the bite was marked for several days afterwards by 

 a slight local swelling. 



' Permanganate of potassium (KMnO^) is, in my opinion? 

 one of the most valuable therapeutic agents we possess. 

 Whatever may be thought of the value of one striking case, 

 such as that above-mentioned, as evidence that the salt has 

 antidotic power in connection with snake-poisoning by the 

 puff-adder, there is abundant evidence from many quarters 

 of its general trustworthiness as a disinfectant. It has been 

 employed as an antidote to the venom of other snakes, but 

 I cannot at this moment specifically refer to the recorded 

 observations. For my part, I feel absolutely certain that 

 an antidote might be found, by extensive and painstaking 

 research, to all kinds of snake-poisoning ; and I can only 



