60 CASES. 



jaw hanging down and tongue protruding, respiration scarcely per- 

 ceptible. He was in fact so near death that this event was expected 

 to take place from minute to minute. In order to task the antidote 

 to the utmost, Dr. Parry cut the tight ligature without excising the 

 bitten skin and then injected xv. of liq. st. P.B. To his surprise in 

 a few minutes the man began to groan and very soon afterwards 

 became consciouis. Dr. Parry then watched him carefully and in 

 about an hour found coma returning, when another injection was 

 made and roused him for good. ThSre was much swelling and 

 effusion in the leg, but no ill effects followed. 



In this case, judging from the comparatively small quantity of 

 the antidote required, only a small amount of poison had been im- 

 parted, the bite being on the back of the foot, where the fangs can- 

 not penetrate deeply. Still there can be no doubt that even this 

 small quantity of the justly dreaded death adder poison would have 

 proved fatal, if it had not been counteracted by the antidote. 



Case 25, reported from Tasmania by Dr. Holmes, of Launceston, 

 presents different features, showing the very large quantity of the 

 antidote sometimes required. After describing the condition of his 

 patient, a Mrs. Frazer, of St Leonards, Dr. Holmes writes : — " From 

 her desperate condition I thought it too late for the ammonia treat- 

 ment and decided on injecting liq. strychnise. At 12.30 p.m. 

 injected m. xv , at 1.40, m. xv., at 2.10, m. xv., at 2.40, m. xv., and 

 3.10, m. XV., at 4 p.m., m. x., and at 5, m. x. A few minutes after 

 the last dose I noticed the physiological action of the drug and 

 desisted from injecting. At 8 p.m. she seemed almost well, pupils 

 normal in size and reacting well, was not sleepy and could swallow 

 easily. The patient made a good recovery. 



This is the largest quantity of strychnine that has been required 

 in Australia, namely, 126 minims of liq. strych., or IJth gr. injected 

 in less than five hours, with the most beneficial result. Surely the 

 most cynical scepticism must give in to such facts. 



Case 26. — Reported by Dr. MacDonald, of Murwillumbah, 

 N.S.W. Mr. S., bitten on leg by a black snake. Coma, complete 



