120 SERPENTS 



universal antidote for snake poisons. These efforts have pro- 

 duced the now celebrated antivcnomous serum, discovered 

 by Dr. Calmette, of the Pasteur Institute of Lille, France. 

 It is obtained by very gradually injecting cobra venom into 

 the flesh of a living domestic animal, and giving Nature time 

 to counteract the poison by her own methods. Eventually 

 the subject becomes immune to these injections, and pro- 

 duces within itself a product which when injected into other 

 animals renders them immune. 



This material, now popularly known as antivenine, is 

 prepared in large quantities, and sent all over the civilized 

 world for use against animal poisons generally. 



Aside from the use of the antitoxin referred to, the key- 

 notes of the treatment of a snake-bitten patient are, bleeding 

 the wound, isolation of the bitten part if it be possible, the 

 application of an antidote, and stimulation. In case of an 

 accident, the regular medical treatment appears to be about 

 as follows: 



1. Cut across the wound, or stab it, and compel it to bleed 

 freely. 



2. Tie a ligature, of cloth, rope, or string, around the 

 bitten member, above the wound, to keep back, as long as 

 possible, the poisoned blood from the veins of the body. 



3. If antivenomous serum is at hand, inject it according 

 to the directions which accompany it. 



4. Give any alcoholic stimulant that may be available, in 

 small doses, at frequent intervals; but remember that a 

 quantity of any strong stimulant will do more harm than 

 good, and may actually hasten complete paralysis and death. 



