VEGETABLE POISONS. 173 



In the four successful cases to which he has 

 alluded, from the flesh being much torn by the 

 bites, he removed the rugged edges of the inte- 

 guments, and administered two drachms of Fow- 

 lers solution, (which is equal to one grain of 

 arsenic,) in a draught composed of peppermint 

 water and ten drops of laudanum; to which, when 

 taken, half an ounce of lime juice was added, 

 to produce the effervescent effect ; and this was 

 repeated every half hour for four successive hours ; 

 the parts being frequently fomented and rubbed 

 with a liniment, composed of half an ounce of 

 oil of turpentine, and an ounce and a half of olive 

 oil. In a few days the patients recovered, and 

 returned to their duty. He succeeded in another 

 case at Martinique, where the patient was bitten 

 by a serpent, reported to be as venomous and 

 fatal as that at St. Lucia. 



Mr. Boag, who has had some experience in 

 the bites of the cobra de capejlo, recommends a 

 weak solution of the nitrate of silver to be assidu- 

 ously applied to the part, and small doses of it 

 to be given internally. Should, however, future 

 experience decide upon the inefficacy of all these 

 remedies ; in that case, the only security against 

 the consequences of wounds so alarming, (if secu- 

 rity is to be obtained,) would be a very deep 

 extirpation of the surrounding parts, or the rapid 

 extinction of the vital principle in them by the 

 most active caustks. 



