HOME HELPS. 331 



SNAKE BITES. Australian snakes, with few exceptions, 

 are timid, and get out of the way. But at the season of 

 the year when snakes are pairing (during January and 

 February) they are less timid and more dangerous than 

 usual. In the event of being bitten, the following may be 

 of value : In former times everything in the shape of a 

 snake was considered poisonous ; but of late years colonists 

 know that many of the more common snakes, notably the 

 carpet species, are not poisonous. The death adder is the 

 really dangerous reptile of the snake tribe, because it is 

 sluggish, at all times, and retains its position until touched, 

 when it bites instantly. None of the snakes are known to 

 attack ; they bite only when disturbed in logs or elsewhere,. 

 or when trodden upon by men or animals. They are easily 

 disabled, and seldom escape when attacked with a whip, 

 stick, or other weapon. Most snakes move about at night r 

 and lie in a semi-dormant state during the winter months, 

 in logs, hollow trees, amongst stones, heaps of bark, &c. 

 It is in all cases advisable to have a stick handy, and tc- 

 look cautiously about when working near places that give 

 cover to snakes. In the event of a bite, the flesh around 

 the wound, to the size of a sixpence, should be cut away to- 

 the depth of about an eighth of an inch, or scarified at once 

 to cause a free flow of blood, and warm water applied to 

 induce bleeding. The late Dr. Bancroft, of Brisbane, 

 recommended the immediate application of leeches to the 

 wound to be effective, and leeches are plentiful enough in 

 scrubs, swamps, &c. A bandage or piece of cord should, 

 if practicable, be tied tightly between the wound and the 

 heart, and the blood and poison sucked out with vigour. 

 If the patient cannot do this himself, there is no great risk 

 to another person doing so, as snake poison is dangerous 

 only when it comes in contact with a wound. Drowsiness 

 is the first symptom of snake poison ; and as soon as it 

 appears every effort should be employed to keep the patient 

 awake by moving him about, rubbing, &c. ; medical aid 

 should bo called in as rapidly as possible. Stimulants are 

 valuable in such cases. If bleeding the wound has been 

 neglected, then much depends on giving large doses of 

 stimulants, whisky, brandy, rum, weak ammonia, &e, 



