322 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



experiments are conducted as humanely as possible, the end, I 

 think, more than justifies the means. In this case thousands 

 of colonists and tens of thousands of natives, if not millions, have 

 absolute faith in the antidotal properties of " Isibiba." The 

 inevitable result is that, instead of approved remedies being 

 applied, such, for instance, as those advocated in this book, this 

 worthless " Isibiba " or some other equally useless stuff is 

 administered by the victim's friends, a native " doctor," or 

 applied by himself. No other treatment is thought to be neces- 

 sary. Thus valuable human lives are lost — lives which could 

 easily be saved. 



As far as I can ascertain, " Isibiba " contains no medicinal 

 substance which is of a nature to be rapidly absorbed by the 

 mucous membrane of the stomach, or the absorbent vessels 

 under the skin. When mixed with snake venom it does not 

 destroy its poisonous properties. If it has not this effect outside 

 the body it would not be likely to have the contrary effect within 

 the body. 



Since the above was written, further supplies of Isibiba have 

 been received and experimented with. The results were precisely 

 the same as the others. 



Knowledge is Power. 



If people would only make themselves acquainted with the 

 nature of snake venom, approved antidotes, the treatment of 

 snake bite, the nature of the venom of each species, how to 

 distinguish venomous from slightly venomous or non-venomous 

 snakes, fewer deaths would take place amongst human beings 

 and stock from snake bite, and the almost universal fear and 

 dread of snakes would be much lessened. So strong is this dread 

 of snakes and their venom that many cases are on record of 

 people collapsing and dying after being bitten by non- venomous 

 snakes. I have not seen cases of people actually dying, but I 

 have seen them in a state of great nervous collapse simply through 

 fear and dread, induced by the firm belief that death was likely 

 to occur. 



Isibiba, I am informed, is known by different names in various 

 parts of the country. What those synonyms are I have been 

 unable to ascertain. Colonists, or most of them who keep some 

 of this alleged snake-bite remedy, simply call it " Kafir mooti." 



