428 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



(lo) The seram contains no toxic or poisonous substances 

 of any kind. 



(ii) It does no harm if injected, and it is subsequently dis- 

 covered that the snake which inflicted the bite was a harmless one. 



(12) The bottles of serum should be kept in the dark, and in 

 the coolest place in the house. Heat and light are the two chief 

 causes in bringing about a deterioration in the strength of the 

 antitoxic properties of the serum. 



(13) When kept in a dark and cool place, the serum loses very 

 little of its antitoxic properties in a year — probably not more 

 than 5 per cent., even if as much. An increase of dose would 

 make up for this loss. 



(14) Sometimes a kind of nettle-rash appears on the skin 

 after the subcutaneous injection of serum. This will disappear 

 in a day or two, and need cause no alarm.* 



(15) Serum injected in excess does no harm. Sometimes 

 what is known as serum sickness (anaphylaxis) supervenes, 

 if the patient has been injected with serum at some previous 

 time. 



(16) If nervous about injecting serum direct into a vein, then 

 inject copiously under the skin in bad cases. Use even as much 

 as 50 cubic centimetres (nearly 2 oz.) if necessary. 



(17) It is advisable to renew Hquid serum every two years. 



Secondary Treatment for Snake Bite, effective in 

 ALL Serious Cases. 



We will suppose the punctures have been thoroughly scari- 

 fied, permanganate of potash rubbed in, a ligature applied, 

 and the patient is now at home, and has been injected with 

 anti-venomous serum and the ligature removed. He must be 

 stripped and put into bed at once, and kept warm. Apply 

 hot-water bags to his feet, stomach, and abdomen. If none 

 are available, fill stone jars, bottles, or anything handy 

 which will hold hot water. Wrap these separately in flannel, 

 or some other kind of cloth, to prevent them burning the 



* If an abscess forms at the seat of injection, it indicates the syringe 

 was not in an aseptic condition, or the skin at the point of entry of tlie 

 needle was dirty. 



