PREFACE. 



Since the method of treating snakebite-poisoning 

 by hypodermic injections of strychnine, discovered by 

 the writer and published but a few years ago, has 

 already been adopted by the medical profession through- 

 out the Australian colonies, and practised even by 

 laymen in cases of urgency with much success, it has 

 been repeatedly suggested to him that the subject calls 

 for further elucidation at his hands ; that the mor- 

 bid processes engendered by the snake venom and the 

 modus operandi of the antidote should be explained by 

 him in a manner satisfying the demands of science, 

 and at the same time within the grasp of the intelli- 

 gent, moderately educated layman. When the latter, 

 in a case of pressing emergency and in the absence of 

 medical aid, is called upon to administer a potent drug 

 in heroic doses, the. aggregate of which would be 

 attended by serious consequences in the absence of the 

 deadly ophidian virus, an intelligent insight alone into 

 the process he is about to initiate will give him that 

 decision and promptitude of action, on the full exercise 

 of which on his part it may depend whether, within a 

 few hours, a valuable and to him probably dear life 

 will be saved or lost. 



