ORDER OPHIDIA. 363 



not prevent the manifestation of the symptoms consequent 

 on the wound. But the details of this case were very insufS- 

 cient to found any opinion on, and we are left in ignorance whe- 

 ther the cupping-glass was properly applied or not, or suffered 

 to remain for a sufficient time. The following case, on the other 

 side of the question, was stated by Doctor Piovey at a sitting 

 of the Royal Academy of Medicine. 



" A man of forty-five years of age was bitten on the right 

 hand by a viper. In an hour and an half after, pain, enor- 

 mous swelling, and numbness of the wounded part, and the 

 corresponding member supervened. Then followed a reduc- 

 tion of temperature, and a diminution of the action of the heart, 

 and the radial pulse and that gf the carotids were imper- 

 ceptible. Then nausea, vomitings, spontaneous defecation, 

 and enormous tumefaction of the face. The cerebral symp- 

 toms scarcely amounted to anything. Incision was made in 

 the wounds on the hand, and a cupping-glass applied imme- 

 diately, for half an hour. There flowed at first some drops 

 of serous fluid, with which a cat was inoculated without in- 

 convenience, and then several table-spoonsful of a fluid ana- 

 logous to the serum of the blood. The internal affections 

 were instantaneously suspended, and the local accidents 

 diminished. It is true that a phelpnonous erisypelas seemed 

 inclined to manifest itself on the following day, but it was 

 removed by the application of forty leeches, and the patient 

 was cured." 



A variety of different substances, taken internally, has 

 been lauded from time to time as efficacious against the bite 

 of the viper. To mention them all would be out of the 

 question ; we shall, however, notice a few. 



Sudorifics have been especially recommended, and among 

 them the flesh of the lizard, of the coluber, and the viper 

 itself, have been preferred, in consequence of the great quan- 

 tity of ammonia which it has been ascertained to contain. 



