62 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



M?anttdote. '^^® treatment recommended by Mead is suc- 



tion of the wound, an emetic with oil and warm 

 water, and Axvmgia Vipervnce or viper's fat. 

 He did not believe in external management, 

 " since it cannot prevent the sudden communica- 

 tion of the poison to the nerve." The following 

 case in which suction of the wound was had re- 

 course to, is well worth citing : — 



"A man was bit on one of his fingers by a 

 rattlesnake, just then brought over from Virginia. 

 He immediately put his finger into his mouth and 

 sucked the wound. His underlip and tongue 

 were presently swelled to a great degree; he falt- 

 ered in his speech, and in some measure lost his 

 senses. He then drank a large quantity of oil " 

 [a reputed antidote] " and warm water upon it, 

 by which he vomited plentifully. A live pigeon 

 Warm oil as a was cut in two and applied to the finger. Two 

 reme y. Jiquj-s after this the flesh, about the wound was 

 cut out and the part burnt with a hot iron, and 

 the arm embrocated with warm oil. The man 

 recovered." 



The application of warm oil in cases of snake- 

 bite appears to have enjoyed a great reputation 

 in England, but the Physicians of the Royal Aca- 



