328 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



the venom of the Adders, or Boomslang, it is distinctly dangerous 

 to administer strong doses of alcohol, as it would increase the 

 haemorrhage into the tissues and under the skin. Given hot, 

 diluted with water in small quantities, it may exert a helpful 

 influence in case of bites by Cobras. When serum is used for 

 treatment, alcohol must be absolutely forbidden as it hinders the 

 action of the former. 



Horniball's Patent Wonderful Extract. 



In the Eastern Province of the Cape Colony, " Horniball's 

 Patent W'ondcrful Extract " is in great favour as a remedy for 

 snake bite. 



In appearance it is a blackish substance of the consistency 

 of vaseline. It smells like extract of male fern. 



It is stated to be specially efficacious in cases of bites by Puff 

 Adders. 



Taking a quantity of this extract, I diluted it slightly with 

 water and added two drops of Puff Adder venom, stirred it well in, 

 and left the mixture for several hours. It was then injected under 

 the skin of a large fowl. The fowl underwent the usual symptoms 

 of poisoning by snake venom and died in three-quarters of an 

 hour. The leg was swollen and saturated with extra vasated blood. 



Smaller quantities of snake venom were mixed with the 

 extract and injected after the mixture had stood several hours. 

 The fowls died as rapidly as when the same quantities of venom 

 were injected with pure water. 



If this extract can e.xert no neutralizing effect upon snake 

 venom when actually mixed with it, even in a concentrated 

 form, it most certainly will not exert any curative power if applied 

 to the punctures, and it is not conceivable that it would have 

 any better effect if swallowed. 



The Stockholm Tar and Fowl Flesh Cures. 

 I have always been willing to submit any popular so-called 

 South African antidote to a fair trial, but some of the " cures " 

 which I have been assured even on oath are absolute antidotes 

 for snake bite are absurd and ridiculous, showing that those who 

 believe in them have not even a rudimentary idea of human 

 physiology. A farmer's wife called on me one day and said 

 she wanted me to make it known through the medium of my 



