1362 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



ANTI-VENOMOUS SERUMS 



Anti-lachesis and anti-crotalus serums of Dr. Brazil, and Dr. Calmette's serum for treatment of bites of cobras and vipers. 



The glass tube and container on the extreme right is Calmette. 



All the wounds were now thoroughly opened 

 for drainage. The muscles and fatty tissue 

 were under such tension from the swelling that 

 they immediately bulged through the drainage 

 incisions. The absence of dangerous neuro- 

 toxic symptoms were attributed to the action of 

 Calmette's serum. Dr. Van der Smissen came 

 in consultation with Dr. Gustav Langmann, 

 who has done much scientific research work 

 with snake poisons. Dr. Langmann stated that 

 Dr. Vital Brazil was then in New York, having 

 come north from the Pan-American Congress, 

 and probably had with him several specific 

 types of anti-venomous serums. On the morn- 

 ing after the injury, Dr. Brazil was located. 

 Fortunately, he liad brought with him to the 

 United States, to exhibit at his lectures, tubes 

 of serum obtained by immunization against both 

 lancehead and rattlesnake poison. He at once 

 furnished Toomey's physicians with tubes of the 

 latter, and an injection followed, to combat the 

 formidable haemo-toxic symptoms. The specific 

 rattlesnake serum was in fluid form and was 

 readily injected without any delay. 



The effects following the injection of Dr. 

 Brazil's serum were astonishing. Within a few 

 hours there was complete cessation of vomiting 



and chills. Within twelve hours the great swell- 

 ing that had involved the arm and a consider- 

 able portion of the body, had decreased one- 

 third, by actual circumference measurement of 

 the arm; and it rapidly receded from the breast. 

 The area of intense discoloration also faded. 

 Return to a normal mental condition with in- 

 crease of vitality followed these changes. Two 

 days after the injury there was a general con- 

 sultation to stud}^ the case. Drs. Brazil, Lang- 

 mann, Van der Smissen and Semken were pres- 

 ent, and Director Hornaday and the writer also 

 witnessed the dressing of the wounds. Improve- 

 ment had been so rapid that the area of pur- 

 plish discoloration had given way to a faint 

 brown tinge, not particularly noticeable. The 

 swelling was hourly decreasing. The wounds 

 presented a gaping and bulging appearance that 

 obviated the necessity of much packing. From 

 all of them there was a profuse serous drainage 

 which literally saturated the dressings. Dress- 

 ing was with gauze moistened with a mild anti- 

 septic. There was no indication of pus, nor 

 has there been up to the closing of the wounds. 

 The history of the case at the hospital shows 

 a return of normal conditions, and discharge as 

 convalescent within three weeks. This resume 



