138 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



given, are probably harmful and the most haiTnful of the three is 

 undoiTbtedly alcohol. 



All these remedies would be suitable in stimulating a weakened 

 heart, not the result of ophitoxasmia, such as one sees from emo- 

 tional causes in non-venomous snake, and other animal bites. 

 Where one cannot positively exclude the possibility' of the injuries 

 having been inflicted by a poisonous species these remedies should 

 certainly be withheld. It is better to do nothing than damage a 

 patient's chances of life by meddlesome medication. 



In considering the second question " can we influence the effects 

 produced in the blood by snake poison " the answer is emphatically 

 '" Yes." There are at least three drugs known to us now that act 

 upon the blood vessels and the blood too, in the very direction re- 

 quired. These stand out above all others, and should prove of the 

 greatest use in reducing or actually controlling haemorrhages. 

 These are calcium, adrenalin, and pituitrin. 



Calcium. 



In disciissing the effects of snake poison in Part II, p. 100, 

 reference was made to the reduction of the clotting power induced. 

 Now calcium not only increases the coagulability of the blood 

 in any subject, but will, if given in suitable quantities, actually 

 restore clotting power lost under the influence of such acids as phos- 

 phoric and citric, which act (like snake venom ';*) by decalcifying the 

 blood. Further it probably restores calcium to the vessel walls, and 

 renders them less permeable. We may assume, until disproved by ex- 

 periment, that calcium will operate similarly on blood and blood ves- 

 sels decalcified by snake venom. By experiments on tadpoles 

 Professor Ivor Bang of the Royal Veterinary School, Copenhagen, 

 and Ernst Overton have demonstrated that Calcium actually 

 abates the toxicity of Cobra Venom. Solutions of the Chlo- 

 ride in water (1 in 200) required 100 times as much venom 

 t}0 produce the same effects. Lime water was found to be 

 still stronger than the Chloride, but magnasium, and soda-water 

 were found to be weaker in action. In a few reported cases in the 

 human subject, it has been used with dubious benefit, but I venture 

 'to thinli that its full virtues have never yet been put to the test. It 



