388 Notes on an alleged species of poisonous Lizard, fyc. 



According to Dr. Reuzger (who wrote on the subject be- 

 fore Dr. Knox, or at least published the results of his ex- 

 perience many years before him) the best method of treat- 

 ment, is the removal of the wounded limb, or the excision of 

 the bitten part, and the subsequent scarification and cauteri- 

 sation of the wound. If the necessary instruments are not 

 at hand, the wound must be sucked, and repeatedly washed 

 with acrid and pungent washes, as lemon juice, brandy, &c. 

 and afterwards covered with gunpowder and pepper, or 

 powdered cantharides. A tight bandage should be tied 

 round the limb, and an emetic should be given as soon as 

 possible, &c. With reference to the necessity of excision, 

 Dr. Knox coincides most emphatically in opinion with Dr. 

 Reuzger ; his words are these — " I now come to the deter- 

 mination of the opinion so generally entertained, that the 

 bite of several poisonous snakes is almost inevitably fatal ; 

 and I believe that it is so, if proper remedial means be not 

 speedily adopted. The sole remedy is the excision of the 

 part bitten ; all other means seem to me only dangerous de- 

 lusions." Now as the field of Dr. Knox's experience in this 

 matter was South Africa, where there are snakes of the 

 most deadly character, his opinion is entitled to the greatest 

 consideration. Indtfed I may be allowed to observe, that 

 on any point of pathological science, it is so. Surely then, 

 the question of whether there be, or be not remedies apart 

 from excision and cauterisation for the bites of poisonous 

 serpents, is one of very great importance ; so much so, that I 

 earnestly entreat those of your readers who may have it in 

 their power, to increase our stock of information on this sub- 

 ject, to do so. It is said, that the Mongoose or the Ichneu- 

 mon, after a combat with a snake, runs away to feed upon, or at 

 least to chew some herb, that acts as an antidote to the bites 

 he may have received. I was once a witness to such a com- 

 bat, and the snake, a fierce Cobra Capello with formidable 

 fangs, was soon demolished. I had placed the combatants 



