SKAKE POISONS. 259 



difficulty in getting it down his throat. In ten minutes I gave him 

 an ounce of sweet spirit of nitre. We then went into the office 

 intending to repeat the dose diminished, in half a hour or so, and 

 left the dog in the waggon. I had little faith in any remedy in this 

 case, as the creature was greatly paralyzed and exhibited great 

 suffering. His life was ebbing fast and he seemed to be dying, with 

 no hope of recovery. Mr. Burt was very sorry and did not wish to 

 see his faithful dog die, in agony, in the waggon. In half a hour 

 we intended to repeat the dose and then went out to do so. But 

 you may guess at our astonishment when we found that our canine 

 patient had disappeared, where we could not tell, and we searched 

 and whistled for him in vain. Mr. Burt and myself were puzzled, 

 and he was anxious and started for home. On arriving he was more 

 astonished still to find that the dog had an-ived first, and was quietly 

 awaiting his master's return. He came to my office next day, and 

 informed me, the dog was alive and doing well, and was tied up for 

 a few days that he might have a perfect recoveiy and rest. When 

 I reflect on the prostrated condition he was in on arrival, and knew 

 for a fact, that he had received a full dose of poison from the fangs 

 of a large rattlesnake, I cannot but e^xpress the greatest amazement, 

 at the almost miraculous rapidity, with which this seemingly simple 

 remedy acted. " Dr." said Mr. Burt to me, " that dog is worth 

 hundreds of dollai's to me, as he does two or three men's ^work, - 

 in herding my cattle." 



This animal throughly recovered and seemingly had none of the 

 paralysis and pain, so often left as a souvenir of rattlesnakes' bites, 

 both to man and beast. 



I have had other minor cases but these are the most noteworthy, 

 and in all cases the iodide of potash given first and then followed in 

 ten minutes by the spii'it aether nitre has been eminently successful. 

 Judging then, by my own experience, I believe if your method of 

 treatment is carried out, in cases similar to these that a failure is 

 impossible and that a speedy restoration will always follow. 



(Signed) B. Grant Jefferies, M.D." 



I am not the first to point out iodine as a cure for snake bites, as 

 twenty-five years ago Mr. Viaud Marais did so, but he used metallic 

 iodine and failed. 



