CASES. 53 



eliminated by the prompt measures taken before he saw her, he 

 injected only jjth of a grain, which produced slight muscular spasms. 

 Careful precautions were taken in this case against a relapse, but 

 none took place, and when visited next morning the girl declared 

 herself as well as ever she had been in her life. 



The following notes of two cases of tiger snake bite (Hoplo- 

 eephalus curtus), treated with strychnine, were read by Dr. Thwaites 

 before the Intercolonial Medical Congress of 1889. This gentle- 

 man, a young practitioner just entering practice, had the courage to 

 use the antidote according to the writer's directions in spite of the 

 hostile criticisms of his seniors in the profession and even his own 

 university teachers, and thereby not only saved two valuable lives, 

 but also set a praiseworthy example, which ivas soon followed by 

 others. The writer gives the notes abbreviated. 



Cask 3. — J. B., a strong, robust labourer, bitten by a tiger 

 snake on the back of right hand. Killed the snake, which hung on 

 to the hand and was with some difficulty shaken off. Made slight 

 incision through the punctures and tied a rag round the wrist, but 

 too loosely to check circulation ; then started for the next neigh- 

 bour's house, distant a mile, which he reached with difficulty, 

 staggering like a drunken man when he arrived. The bitten skin 

 was here excised, whisky administered and patient sent on in a 

 buggy, but distance being 30 miles to Dr. Thwaites' residence, a 

 messenger on horseback galloped ahead to get Dr. Thwaites to meet 

 buggy on road. The latter writes : " I met buggy four miles from 

 my residence. Patient had to be held up on the seat of the vehicle 

 between two men. He had not spoken for some time, pulse very 

 weak, pupils greatly dilated, face very pale. I injected 10 minims 

 of liq. strychnine P.B. at once, and in a few minutes noticed some 

 improvement. He now answered when spoken to, his pulse became 

 stronger, and he could walk a few steps. This was at 5.30 p.m., 

 and he kept up fairly well till 8.15, when he collapsed completely, 

 I now injected 20 minims of liq. gtrychnias, which in a short time 

 brought him round ; but at 9.15 another relapse took place, when a 



