DOCUMENTS 341 



XXI. — Case recorded by Dr. D. Paterne, of Blois {Anjou medical, 

 September, 1897). 



" My confr&re and friend Dr. Marchand (des Montils) published 

 in last month's Anjou medical an interesting case of viper-bite, 

 cured by Calmette's seram. May I send you particulars of another 

 case, which can only increase the interest of the one that you have 

 already published ? The facts are as follows : — 



"Leon Bertre, aged 55, living at 17, Eue du Puits-Chatel, Blois, 

 professes to be a snake-charmer, and really catches and destroys 

 large numbers of dangerous reptiles in the vicinity of Blois. 



" On Sunday, the 30th of last May, he went among the rocks of 

 the Chaussee Saint-Victor on his favourite quest, and soon returned 

 with ten large female vipers, and amused himself by exhibiting 

 them to a group of interested spectators in an inn. A dog came up 

 and began to bark. Bertre, whose attention was momentarily 

 distracted, ceased to fix his gaze on the vipers, one of which, being 

 no Iqnger under the influence of its fascination, bit him on the 

 back of the right hand, between the metacarpals of the thumb and 

 index-finger. (I here reproduce the account of the occurrence as I 

 received it from the snake-charmer's own lips.) Bertre immedi- 

 ately felt an acute pain ; his hand swelled up almost suddenly, and, 

 since he was perfectly aware of the seriousness of what had 

 happened, he ran with all speed in the direction of my con- 

 sulting-room. The unfortunate man, however, had hardly gone 

 200 metres, when he fell insensible on the highway. H^ was 

 brought to me, and Dr. Moreau, of Paris, locum tenens for Dr. 

 Ferrand, of Blois, who was away, rendered first aid. He washed 

 the wound, dressed it with perchloride of mercury, and injected 

 10 c.c, of Calmette's serum into the right flank. The accident 

 took place a little before 5 p.m., and the injection was given about 

 6 o'clock. 



" Dr. Moreau, who was interested in the case, asked me to 

 take charge of it, which I gladly consented to do. The patient's 

 general condition was very grave, since he remained two days and 

 two nights without regaining consciousness. 



