310 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Apparent Cures. 



In the past I have treated, and seen treated, many cases of 

 snake bite. It was in the days when httle or nothing was 

 known of the present approved methods of treatment. I had 

 strong faith in alcohol, strychnine, ammonia, and one or two 

 proprietary substances, the active principle of which, I after- 

 wards ascertained, was either ammonia or strychnine, or both. 

 Many of the cases so treated were practically " cured " twelve 

 or twenty-four hours after treatment. I have often seen the 

 same thing occur when native " cures " were applied. 



The Reason Why. 



However, when I began the serious study of snakes and 

 their venom, I found that a large percentage of the snakes of 

 South Africa were non- venomous, many others were only veno- 

 mous to a slight degree, and others powerfully venomous. Now, 

 a harmless snake or a slightly venomous one will, in nearly all 

 cases, instantly bite if trodden upon or roughly handled. Some 

 of them are actually vicious, and will lunge fiercely at any one 

 coming near to them. The commonest place to be bitten is 

 upon the hand. In gardening work, removing lumber, and in 

 a multitude of other out-of-door occupations, the hands are em- 

 ployed in moving, turning over, carrying, etc. If the fingers 

 should touch a snake, or the hand come within striking distance 

 of it, the reptile will often lunge with gaping jaws and inflict a 

 wound. The victim sees the snake bite him. That is enough 

 for him. He rushes off in terror, forthwith swallows all the 

 brandy, whisky, or gin he is able to imbibe, or perhaps other 

 " cures " are applied. If the strong spirit does not poison 

 him, or cause acute inflammation of the stomach and death, 

 he recovers and swears ever after that he drank a bottle or 

 two of spirits and it cured him. If the cure should happen 

 to be some simple remedy, such as native " mooti," or 

 something else recommended by a neighbour, and he finds he 

 is none the worse for the bite, he is never weary of advocating 

 the treatment, whatever its nature might have been, although 

 in all probability the snake which bit him was one of the harmless 

 species. 



