196 ON SNAKE-BITES AND THEIE ANTIDOTES. 



it by the wine glassful, with equal part of water, and the tolerance 

 of pure spirits in such cases is wonderful. I believe this impor- 

 tant remedy was found out in America, where the Rattle-Snake 

 is so common, and where old Indians would allow themselves to 

 be bitten for a pint of pure whiskey, which they drank off at 

 once, and found no symptoms of poisoning from the bite, or of 

 intoxication from the whiskey. This fact being once established, 

 its application has spread far and wide, but not so generally in 

 this country as it should have done, considering its well acknow- 

 ledged successful results. 



As the patient rallies, and urgent symptoms disappear, the 

 antidotes can be withheld, and if immediately after the accident, 

 this plan of treatment has been actively carried out, a few hours 

 would, in most instances, place him out of danger. 



The efficacy of these rules is only equalled by their extreme 

 simplicity, which will enable any person to proceed at once with 

 the treatment without the loss of a minute, as every minute's 

 delay increases the danger. For the use of people living in the 

 country, out of reach of immediate medical assistance, I have 

 completed a small box, containing spirits to begin with, and 

 all instruments, appliances, and antidotes required for curing 

 any snake-bite, with printed directions how to use them 

 effectively. 



I will conclude by observing that the blacks of this country, 

 who must have great experience in snake-bites, use, in their rude, 

 untutored way, the same surgical treatment as is here advised, 

 with the addition of immersing the patient in cold water : repeated 

 cold water affusion to the face might be used with advantage 

 instead of immersion. The bites of centipedes, scorpions, taran- 

 tulas, and other venomous insects, are best treated with ammonia 

 applied to the part and taken internally. The same surgical 

 treatment as applied to men should be used for all animals bitten 

 by poisonous reptiles. 



