SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE. 85 



would be an endless and unprofitable task to 

 enumerate all the remedies that have from time 

 to time been recommended, he details several 

 which he considers the most worthy of notice. 

 Amongst these he mentions human saliva which, 

 " as we are informed by Seneca and the elder 

 Pliny," enjoyed considerable reputation as a re- 

 medy in viper-bite. He also refers to the snake- 

 root recommended in both India and America. 

 Ammonia which had been in great repute had Ammonia had 



_ . lost ground. 



apparently lost ground, as it was then pretty ge- 

 nerally aknowledged that it possessed no specific 

 power, its only action being to stimulate the 

 heart and vascular system to a more vigorous 

 action, and, moreover, this stimulation was only 

 temporary. These views thoroughly coincide with 

 those of more recent authorities who have had 

 experience in the matter. Arsenic is condemned 

 as producing very violent result?, and, therefore, 

 being liable to cause death. The only cases in 

 which Mr. Boag considered it might be employed 

 were the more desperate ones. Mercury is 

 spoken of as deserving of trial, as " much good 

 might be anticipated from its use," though it 

 should be given in a more convenient form than 

 was then prescribed. 



