CROTALUS HORRIDUS. 



material activity.- According to the popular notion, those 

 articles only are poisonous which are capable of producing 

 morbid, noxious, or dangerous effects in comparatively small 

 quantities ; but there is no just foundation for such a distinc- 

 tion. 



In the treatment of wounds inflicted by venomous snakes, 

 and of their immediate or distant consequences, there exists 

 yet a great deal of uncertainty and diversity of opinion. It 

 becomes necessary, therefore, to promote further investigation 

 on the subject, and to encourage those who may discover the 

 best means to shorten the labor in discussing the merits of 

 any proposed remedy. Experience, however, in this class of 

 diseases, occurs so rarely, that most probably observations and 

 opinions will be very slow in forthcoming. 



The best remedy against the bites of venomous serpents is 

 the application of dry heat AT A DISTANCE. Whatever is at 

 hand at the moment, a red-hot iron or live coal, or even a 

 lighted cigar, must be placed as near the wound as possible, 

 without, however, burning the skin, or causing too sharp 

 pain ; but care must be taken to have another instrument 

 ready in the fire, so as never to allow the heat to lose its in- 

 tensity. It is essential, also, that the heat should not exer- 

 cise its influence over too large a surface, but only on the 

 wound and the parts adjacent. If oil or grease can be read- 

 ily procured, it may be applied round the wound, and this 

 operation should be repeated as often as the skin becomes 

 dry ; soap, or even saliva, may be employed where oil or grease 

 cannot be obtained. Whatever is discharged in any way 

 from the wound ought to be carefully removed. The applica- 

 tion of burning heat should be continued in this manner until 

 the patient begins to shiver and to stretch himself; if this 

 takes place at the end of a few minutes, it will be better to 

 keep up the action of the heat upon the wound for an hour, 

 or until the affections produced by the venom are observed to 

 diminish. v 



Internal medicines must be judiciously administered at the 

 same time. In case of a BITE FROM A SERPENT, it will be 

 advisable to take, from time to time, one or two gulps of salt 

 and water, or a pinch of common salt, or of gunpowder, or 

 else some pieces of garlic. If, notwithstanding this, bad 

 effects manifest themselves, a small quantity of wine or 

 brandy, administered every two or three minutes, will be the 



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