. THE ALCOHOL CURE FOR SNAKE BITE. 325 



way, it would not be likely to do so if rubbed into a wound or 

 swallowed. Both colubrine and ^•iperine venoms were used in the 

 experiments. 



The Alcohol Cure for Snake Bite. 



Of the many popular " cures " for snake bite, alcohol is one 

 of the most widespread. In South Africa it is universally 

 believed to exert a strong curative effect in cases of snake bite. 

 In Australia and America the popular faith in this substance 

 is equally strong. Unfortunately, however, when subjected to 

 careful scientific experimentation alcohol is found to have no 

 antidotal power in snake venom poisoning. The belief in 

 alcohol is so strong that if it be at hand, no other means of 

 averting a fatal issue is thought of. The patient is plied with 

 brandy or whisky until he is unable to swallow any more. Often 

 one, and even two bottles of brandy are given, and as likely 

 as not without being previously diluted with water. The idea 

 is that if the patient can be intoxicated, he will be saved. In 

 cases of snake bite the nervous centres are more or less benumbed, 

 and the stomach is often incapable of absorbing much, if any 

 liquid which may enter it. If the nerve centres are already 

 benumbed by snake venom, the alcohol will naturally fail to 

 have any effect upon them. If the stomach is inert through 

 the paralysis of the gastric nerve centres, then all or most of the 

 alcohol will lie in the stomach unabsorbed. This is why alcoholic 

 intoxication does not always follow after the administration of 

 even a whole bottle of brandy. However, if the snake venom 

 symptoms be only slight, or if the patient is beginning to rally 

 from the effects of the venom, then the alcohol will begin to 

 produce intoxication, and the patient will soon be drunk and 

 incapable. If the alcohol does not succeed in destroying his 

 life, he will in due course wake up from his drunken stupor, 

 apparently cured. 



The administration of large doses of alcohol to any one 

 whose body has not been accustomed to strong doses of this 

 poisonous drug, will either cause death or serious damage. The 

 delicate lining membrane of the stomach may be so extensively 

 burned that subsequent inflammation of that organ may cause 

 death ; or if recovery should take place, the digestive powers 

 are ruined for life, owing to the destruction of large patches of 



