VENOMOUS SERPENTS. 59 



58. Its energy varies according to the species, and according 

 to the condition of the serpent. The same species seems to be 

 more dangerous in warm than in cold or temperate climates, and 

 the effects are serious in proportion to the quantity of poison 

 poured into the wound : these animals are more formidable when 

 they have fasted for sometime, and the poison has accumulated in 

 considerable quantity in the glands where it is secreted, than 

 when they have just bitten several times, and only a small 

 quantity of the liquid is left. It is remarked also that their poison 

 does not act in the same manner on all animals. It appears that 

 to Leeches, Snails, the Asp, the Coluber, and Angue, the venom 

 of the Viper, for example, is not poisonous, while it kills all warm 

 blooded animals, Lizards, and the Viper itself, with great rapidity. 

 In general, the quantity of poison necessary to cause death is, 

 all things being equal, large in proportion to the size of the 

 animal wounded ; thus, when the hundredth part of a grain of 

 the poison of a Viper is sufficient to kill a Sparrow, it would 

 require six times as much to kill a Pigeon. 



59. This poison, to act on the animal economy, must be 

 absorbed and carried into the circulation : therefore, in cases of 

 bites of venomous serpents, we should hasten, by appropriate 

 means, to prevent this absorption, so as to gain time to extract 

 or destroy the poison, deposited at the bottom of the wound. 

 Compression of 'the veins above the wound, between it and the 

 heart, and the application of a cupping-glass over the wound 

 itself, are the most appropriate means of retarding the absorption 

 of the poison ; but, to remove all danger completely, we should 

 enlarge the wound, and cauterise the bottom of it, either with a 

 red hot iron, or with some energetic caustic. Several internal 

 remedies have been much vaunted, such as Ammonia, or Vola- 

 tile Alkali, Arsenic, &c., but these means, though sometimes 

 useful, should not inspire great confidence. The Indians of South 

 America attribute still greater virtues to a plant of that country, 

 known under the name of Guaco, or fllicania guaco; they assure 

 us that not only the application of the leaves of the Guaco to the 

 bite of the most venomous serpents prevents all deleterious effects, 

 but also that innoculation with the juice of this plant prevents 

 these animals from biting persons so prepared. In support of 

 this opinion the observations of Vergas, a Spanish author, and 

 of Mutis are cited ; and the celebrated and learned traveller, 

 Baron Humboldt, thinks, according to some experiments, that 



58. Is the venom of Serpents equally active under all circumstances ? 

 When is it most to be dreaded ? 



59. What is the hest mode of treating a person who has been bitten by a 

 poisonous reptile ? 



