430 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Stimulants. 



In cases of Cobra and Mamba bite, teaspoonful doses of hot 

 brandy and water will do no harm.* The aim should be to pre- 

 vent the poison from benumbing the nerve centres beyond the 

 possibility of recovery. In all cases of Adder and Boomslang 

 venom poisoning alcohol is distinctly harmful. Nux vomica, 

 which is a preparation of strychnine, administered internally 

 in medicinal doses will tend temporarily to rouse the nervous 

 system. So, too, will the injection of strychnine. This, however, 

 is dangerous unless the operator knows the exact dosage. Tab- 

 loids containing the proper dose for injection may be obtained 

 from any chemist. It has, however, no antidotal power. 



The best nerve stimulant at these times is a fresh, hot infusion 

 of tea. Make it very strong, but do not allow it to infuse more 

 than two to three minutes. Tea contains a powerful alkaloid 

 drug, known as Theine, which powerfully stimulates the nerve 

 centres. If the tea is brewed for five minutes or longer, the 

 infusion certainly gets strong, but it is then impregnated with 

 tannic acid, which is highly injurious. Give the tea to the patient 

 in small sips, so as not to upset or overburden his stomach, which 

 at this time is apt to reject anything swallowed. Give the hot 

 tea off and on at intervals, so as to keep up the stimulation. 

 Strong coffee may be used in place of tea. 



Never dose the patient with large doses of alcohol or ammonia, 

 and do not on any account rub pipe oil (nicotine) into the wounds 

 made over the site of the bite, or allow it to be swallowed. 



If you keep the patient warm and apply the hot bottles or 

 fomentations, and give small repeated doses of very strong 

 freshly brewed tea, that is all that you can do to aid Nature. 



If no serum has been injected, then carry out all the fore- 

 going secondary treatment, if possible, more energetically. If 

 the patient continues to shiver, and if the surface of his body 

 feels clammy and cold, it would do him good to soak his body in 

 a bath of hot water now and then for five minutes at a time. 

 After such a bath he must instantly be put back in bed and 

 covered up. 



When the patient shows signs of reviving, and seems on the 



* Alcohol should not be given when serum has been, or is going to be, 

 injected, as it seriously hinders its venom-neutralizing properties. 



