THE TREATMENT OF SNAKE BITE. 405 



permanganate at hand, apply a ligature instantly, and scarify the 

 site of the bite. If there are no cuts, abrasions or ulcers in the 

 mouth or on the lips, the wound can be safely sucked. If the 

 part bitten be laid open and well cauterized by flashing gun- 

 powder in the wound, some of the venom may thus be destroyed. 

 This, however, is useless unless done within five to ten minutes 

 of the infliction of the bite. Ammonia and tobacco juice are 

 useless, — the latter is dangerous. 



There is no possibility of bleeding to death if any of the 

 small veins are severed. The veins are the blood vessels 

 which carry the venous blood to the heart. The blood moves 

 along sluggishly in them. On the contrary, the blood in the 

 arteries courses along at a great rate, and if one of these vessels 

 be cut, the blood squirts out powerfully in jets. Nature, however, 



Square Knot Granny Knot 



Fig. 154. — When you tie a knot do not make a Granny Knot, or else it will be sure to slip and 

 come loose. Tie the Square Knot like this. The harder it is pulled the tighter it will 

 get. It cannot slip. 



has carefully guarded these important blood-vessels from injury 

 by burying them deep in the tissues. The only places where 

 arteries come near the surface are where they pass over the ankles 

 and skull. The blue lines just under the skin are all veins. 

 In the ligatured limb they will stand out like cords. Select two 

 or three of those which apparently lead from the vicinity of 

 the bite, and make small longitudinal incisions in them. Never 

 cut them across. Cut along the course of the vein. By bleeding 

 the ligatured limb, some of the poison will be got rid of. A 

 vein, unless a very large one, will usually stop bleeding itself 

 after a time. If not, then place a little hard pad over the 

 bleeding part and bind it down tightly. If permanganate of 

 potash has been promptly used, bleeding of the ligatured part 

 will be quite unnecessary. 



