KEPTILK>s ;j2i) 



Snake venoms and the treatment of snake bites. l)r. Caluicttc, of tlie 

 Pasteur Institute, succeeded iu proving that snake venoms act ui>on 

 the body and are reacted against by the tissues like any otlier toxins. 

 From this it has followed that antitoxic sera may b»' develo|K*(i for 

 different snake poisons, — the aiitivenins, — which are able to neutralize 

 the poisons and thus confer certain degrees of passive immunity. When 

 this subject has been thoroughly worked out, we may have .specific and 

 sure remedies for all snake poisons, and this will d(» away witli the 

 old, ineffectual remedies — whisky, sucking the wound (very dangerous 

 unless the mouth is perfectly sound), or instant ligature above the bite 

 and quick excision of the poi.soned ti.ssue.s.^ 



1 NoGOucni, '' Snake Venoms," Publication J 11, Carne,i,de Institution. 

 Washington, 1909. 



