1878 The Zoologist — October, 18C9. 



" The value of Piofessor Halford's discovery for the treatment of 

 snake-bile is every day becoming more apparent. To the case of Mr. 

 John Brown, station-master at Elslernwick, alluded to in last month's 

 summary, and who has since completely recovered from the effects of 

 a bite inflicted by a large brown snake, there have been added many 

 others. About a fortnight since a man named Philip Edwards, em- 

 ployed at Carngham, received a bile in the leg from a snake said to 

 be five feet in length. The wound was immediately scarified and 

 sucked. Dr. O'Grady having been sent for arrived soon afterwards, 

 and proceeded to apply Piofessor Halford's remedy : the wound was 

 allowed to breed freely, being at the same time bathed with aqua 

 ammonicB : a vein in the right arm was then opened, and a mixture of 

 ammonia and water — one drachm of the former to two drachms and a 

 half of the latter — injected; while small draughts of ammoniacal 

 brandy-and-water were administered at intervals of half an hour : the 

 patient was also kept walking, until from sheer fatigue he was in- 

 capable of further exertion. This treatment having been continued 

 for four hours, the services of a galvanic battery were had recourse to, 

 and a moderate current of electricity conveyed through the system : 

 afier two hours symptoms of returning animation were apparent, and 

 in a short lime the patient was able to walk about the room. A fit of 

 stupor subsequently succeeded ; but this passed off in a short time, 

 and, at its termination, perfect consciousness ensued, and the man was 

 so far recovered as to be pronounced out of danger. This treatment 

 was found equally efficacious in another and very singular case, which 

 occurred about a week ago : it was that of a young girl named 

 Isabella Melross, residing at Smylhes-dale, who, while drawing water 

 from a hole, had been bitten by a carpet-snake in the extremity of the 

 little finger of the right hand. Dr. Barnett was called in and applied 

 ammonia, somewhat similarly to the method pursued as above slated. 

 The case was dangerous, owing, no doubt, to the tender age of the 

 patient; but she was enabled to walk about the following day, the 

 effect of the poison having been completely overcome. On the follow- 

 ing day the same girl was again bitten by a snake of the same species : 

 hur mother at once acted as previously, by excising the wound, apply- 

 ing ammonia, and putting on a ligature. Dr. Barnelt's services were 

 called into requisition on this occasion also, and, despite the weakness 

 of the patient and the aggravated effects of the second bite, he was 

 enabled to restore the girl to consciousness and strength after a short 

 time." 



