236 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



" It appears that at about eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning, 

 Mr. Parkin was bitten in the thumb by a Night Adder, and follow- 

 ing the usual course adopted in such cases, he immediately pro- 

 ceeded to suck the poison out. This seemed to have the desired 

 effect, and to all appearance it seemed as though the puncture 

 had been a slight one. 



" Later in the afternoon, however, his face and head com- 

 menced to swell up, and Mr. Parkin's condition became exceed- 

 ingly alarming. Every possible deterrent available was tried, 

 but to no effect, and death ensued at seven o'clock in the 

 evening. 



" It is thought that some of the poison injected by the fangs 

 of the Adder sucked from the wound had re-entered Mr. Parkin's 

 system by means of a scratch or bruise in the mouth or tongue, 

 but this is mere surmise." 



On making inquiries, I ascertained that Mr. Parkin's head 

 and throat were greatly swollen, and the muscles of the mouth, 

 eyelids, and face were paralysed. The throat continued to swell, 

 and he eventually died of suffocation. If an air-tube had been 

 inserted in the windpipe below the swelling, his life might have 

 been saved, as the swelling would gradually have subsided. 



There can be little doubt that the deceased gentleman was 

 suffering at the time from inflammation of some portion of the 

 lining membranes of his mouth, or perhaps the teeth were decayed 

 or the gums ulcerated or otherwise injured, which allowed 

 some of the venom to be absorbed. These parts are so intensely 

 susceptible to the action of venom, that a very small quantity 

 will cause extensive swelling of the mouth and throat. In 

 medical literature, cases are recorded of men dying of suffocation 

 caused by extensive swelling of the throat consequent upon the 

 sting of a hornet, wasp, or bee, which had been accidentally 

 swallowed with some beverage, and, in passing, stung the back 

 of the throat. 



If sucking is resorted to in cases of snake bite, when the 

 person is not sure his mouth is in good condition, he should put 

 a tiny pinch of crystals of permanganate of potash in the palm 

 of his hand, spit on them, mix and lick it, just previous to applying 

 his mouth to the wound. The permanganate will kill any venom 

 sucked up. Of course, if permanganate is rubbed into the 

 wounds, and if they are subsequently sucked, there will be no 



