ANTIDOTES. . 193 
perfect specific for the poison of its own class, and also for all 
those varieties less venomous ; although, in the latter case, 
recovery is not so prompt, and relief not so soon afforded, as 
when it is the gall of its own kind. 
The gall of the most deadly kinds is very efficacious in all 
cases where the symptom it develops is known, and a corre- 
sponding one is noted in the patient, when its administration 
affords reliefas if by magic. Thus, for example, the sting or 
bite of the Centipede causes excruciating, throbbing pains, 
accompanied by excessive cedema in the bitten limb; this 
finds precisely similar symptoms in the poison of the Vipera 
Acuaticus Carinata; the gall of which cures Centipede-bites 
in an hour! I have used the B. Lach. bufocephalus in 
many cases where “ the kind” was doubtful, and with perfect 
success. 
Drs. Buitrago and Lopez Z., of Barranquilla, at my sug- 
gestion, have used the B. Crotalus horridus for all kinds of 
wounds produced by poisonous reptiles; and both of them 
assure me that this has met with perfect success in every case, 
although the vicinity of Barranquilla is not abundant in 
snakes, of what are termed a “bad” kind. 
A plant used by the Curers as an antidote and for inocu- 
lation, which I have classified as the Aristolochia Colombiana, 
merits more than a passing attention ; its characteristics differ 
considerably from the Aristolochia Milhomens of Brazil.* 
The tincture of this plant (root and leaves), is used by many 
of the Curers as a prophylactic for inoculation, and proves so 
specific a preventive against the poison as to enable them to 
perform many feats like the most famous snake-charmers of 
Oriental climes. The flower is singularly beautiful; the 
superior part is pear-shaped, pendant, terminating in a narrow 
* See Pathogenesie Bresilienne, by Dr. Mure. 
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