390 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



biting, drag the loose skin of the bitten part so much that most 

 of the venom will be shed perhaps half an inch from the site 

 of the punctures. So, to guard against these eventualities, be 

 careful always to scarify freely so that the permanganate will 

 come into contact with as much of the venom as possible. 



The Serum Treatment for Snake Bite. Results of 

 Scientific Experimentation. 



Failing to find any antidote to snake bite amongst known 

 medicines, either vegetable or mineral, men of science began 

 investigations in another direction. Quite independent of each 

 other. Doctors Fayrer and Calmette conducted a series of experi- 

 ments with snake venom. 



Animals, preferably horses, were injected with minute doses 

 of Cobra venom, and on the symptoms of poisoning subsiding, a 

 larger dose would be injected. This immunizing process was 

 carried on from one to two years, the dosage being progressively 

 increased until 50 to 200 fatal doses could be injected at one 

 dose without any apparent harmful effect. Some of the blood 

 of the horses was then withdrawn, the serum separated and 

 injected into animals bitten by snakes of the same species to 

 the venom of which the horses had been rendered immune- 

 The effect was magical, for almost instantly the venom was 

 neutralized, the symptoms subsided, and the animals recovered. 

 It is well known in medical science that any poison, however 

 potent, if taken into the human body in carefully graduated 

 doses, confers a peculiar mysterious tolerance to that particular 

 poison. The same holds good with all medicinal substances. 

 After repeated dosage the ordinary prescribed quantities fail 

 to have the desired effect. An acquaintance of mine was a 

 victim of the opium habit, and took sufficient opium in the 

 course of the day to kill twenty men not accustomed to its use. 

 Inveterate smokers will take into their bodies daily sufficient 

 nicotine and other tobacco poisons to kill off half a dozen non- 

 smokers. Naturally, however, if poisonous drugs be persistently 

 introduced into the body, they, in time, will shatter the toughest 

 constitution. Two drops of the oil from a tobacco pipe placed 

 upon a dog's tongue will kill it within one minute. A few 

 specks of strychnine will have the same effect. Tobacco oil 



