380 POISONOUS SNAKES 



idea of the value of permanganate because he has had success in experimenting with 

 cats and because it has saved human lives. Chromic acid injections (i%) have also 

 been recommended. 



Internally alcohol does not seem to be of any value, in fact many of the deaths 

 have been attributed to excessive ingestion of whiskey. Strychnine in large, almost 

 poisonous doses, was highly recommended in Australia but the statistics seem to 

 make the value of this remedy doubtful. 



Antivenins. The active agents of snake venoms may be either of the nature of 

 haemorrhagins, neurotoxins, or fibrin ferments. In colubrine snakes the neurotoxin 

 vastly predominates while with the viperines it is the hsemorrhagin. Certain 

 Australian snakes contain all three bodies in about equal proportion while with 

 the rattlesnakes of America it is almost entirely the haemorrhagin which causes 

 the poisoning. The Elaps of Florida is a colubrine snake and its venom is neurotoxic 

 in nature. 



The cause of death in colubrine snake bites is chiefly from paralysis of the respira- 

 tory centers while with the Pit Vipers it is chiefly from haemorrhages in the vital 

 organs. Antitoxins have been prepared against both viperine and colubrine venoms 

 and these are specific, thus a colubrine antivenin will not be of value against a 

 viperine bite. Antivenins should be administered either intravenously or intra- 

 muscularly. The amounts recommended for injections to neutralize a fatal dose 

 of snake poison vary from 100 to 300 c.c. of the antivenin serum. There is no 

 accurate standardization. 



