394 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA 



rapidly collapsed, and much alarm was expressed at her con- 

 dition. I was called and found her in a condition of nervous 

 collapse, the circulation sluggish, pulse feeble and heart's action 

 dangerously slow. Her skin felt cold and clammy, and she 

 shivered. Glancing at the snake which had bitten her, and 

 which her friends had subsequently killed, I realized at once 

 it was a case of shock due to fear. Mixing a little permanganate 

 with water, I made her drink it, and told her it would positively 

 cure her within a few minutes. I repeated the suggestion 

 several times that she was " getting better, much better." In 

 ten minutes' time she was on her feet, declaring she was quite 

 cured, and marvelling at the magical powers of the " antidote " I 

 had given her. Next day I found myself to be an " Inkos 

 m'kulu " (Big Chief) amongst her tribe. 



Another case occurred of a European woman who was bitten 

 on the hand by a slightly venomous snake, and it was doubtful 

 if the little grooved back teeth had even scratched the skin, 

 However, she showed alarming symptoms of nervous collapse, 

 and was dosed by her friends with brandy till she was senseless. 

 She fortunately recovered from the alcoholic poisoning after 

 two weeks of severe gastric inflammation, due to the action of 

 the strong spirit on the delicate mucous lining of her stomach. 



Why People recover. 



During the hottest season of the year the venom of snakes 

 reaches its highest degree of virulence, waning in toxic power 

 and quantity as the chilly weather approaches. 



Full-grown snakes are naturally more likely to inflict a fatal 

 bite than young specimens. The venom of snakes in good 

 vigorous health is far more abundant but not so poisonous as in 

 those in poor condition. The venoms of different species of snakes 

 vary so considerably in toxic power that a full and complete 

 bite of some species would rarely cause death in a healthy man, 

 whilst such a bite given by a Cobra. Ringhals, Mamba. or Puff 

 Adder would mean certain death, if prompt and energetic 

 treatment was not resorted to. In striking at the clothed leg 

 of a man, a good deal of the venom is usually arrested by the 

 clothing, which also prevents the fangs being driven fully home. 

 This is especially so with the Cobras and Mambas which have 



