44 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



The first thing to be done is to tie a strong ligature or two, a string or a handker- 

 chief, between the wound and the heart, whenever practicable; next, cutting 

 deeply into the punctures, so as to make the blood flow freely; sucking out of the 

 blood from the wound, a procedure perfectly harmless, unless the person doing it 

 has an open wound in the mouth; next, careful loosening of the ligature so as to 

 admit a small quantity of the fresh blood to the ligated member in order to prevent 

 mortification; next, administration of a stimulant; if at hand, small doses of an 

 alcoholic liquor being given internally at frequent intervals; if alcohol is not at 

 hand, and a stimulant appears imperative, a small dose of ammonia might be 

 given, but only very shortly after the bite, not on a later stage, when it will certainly 

 do harm, at least in cases of poisoning by rattlesnake, copperhead or water moc- 

 casin; if the patient has to wait for the arrival of a doctor, now is the time to try 

 all reliable means to produce a profuse perspiration. 



We may add that the wound and incisions may be washed with a 

 solution of potassium permanganate, made by dropping enough of the 

 crystals into water to give a rich wine color. If a hypodermic syringe 

 be at hand, some of the solution can be injected in the neighborhood 

 of the wound, but care must be taken not to strike an artery or vein 

 with the solution, as that might prove speedily fatal. 



Dr. W. J. Baird, of Boulder, has told us that a 1:60 solution 

 of calcium chlorate in water may be injected in and about the wound 

 with good effect, this compound acting upon the snake poison. 



Some recent authors have condemned the practice of sucking the 

 wound as a procedure both dangerous and useless. If one be reason- 

 ably sure that the mouth is free from wounds or sores and the teeth 

 sound, there can be little danger, and some good must come from 

 extracting a portion of the poison. 



An outfit with full directions for the treatment of snake bites, in- 

 cluding all necessary instruments and materials, with the Pasteur 

 anti-venom serum, is now on the market. 1 



Economic Relations. — Most people feel that it is a solemn duty to 

 kill snakes and salamanders at sight. This is a mistaken policy, but 

 so firmly established that it seems almost useless to protest. Most 

 (perhaps we should say all) reptiles and amphibians are distinctly 

 useful under natural conditions, where natural enemies keep them in 



1 The addresses of firms handling these supplies may be obtained by writing to the Museum of the 

 University of Colorado. 



