SNAKE POISONS— TREATMENT 119 



in the strength and rapidity of the flow. In the nerves (after 

 the first period of excitement), drowsiness ensues, which in 

 fatal cases often lasts until death. The breathing is gradu- 

 ally diminished in strength and volume. The brain is usu- 

 ally the last organ to succumb. Dr. Stejneger's conclusion 

 is that "the death which follows the introduction of the venom 

 into the circulation must be attributed to gastro-intestinal 

 apoplexy, and the stupefying action exercised directly upon 

 the nervous system." 



Venom introduced directly into the blood acts with great 

 rapidity. When introduced hypodermically, through the 

 skin and muscles, its action is much slower, and if the case is 

 treated with great vigor from the very start, the patient has 

 a fair chance to recover. Except from cobra bites, very many 

 do recover. 



The most dangerous snake bites are those inflicted upon 

 the neck or face. The least dangerous are those upon the 

 feet, the legs below the knees, and the hands and forearms. 



Treatment. — There is small need to apologize for re- 

 cording here the fundamental principles that should be car- 

 ried out in case of accident. In the first place, any one who 

 expects to campaign in a country infested with poisonous 

 snakes should expend $5.00 in the purchase of a small pocket- 

 case containing a hypodermic syringe, a bottle of chromic 

 acid 1 to 100, and another of liquid strychnine. Only the 

 boldest and most enterprising travellers ever get beyond the 

 sphere of influence of whiskey and brandy. 



During the last ten years, medical men have been con- 

 ducting investigations and making experiments to produce a 



