152 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



the poison lying beyond the ligatured part, if it 

 come in contact with it ; but as Wall pointed 

 out, the difficulty of insuring its contact with 

 the poison is so great as to render it practically 

 unreliable. I agree with Richards that, so far as 

 it goes, it is a good local application, and as 

 such ought to be used, or in its absence, tannic 

 acid or liquor potassse might be resorted to 

 with the same object, but as a constitutional 

 remedy, as a physiological antidote, it is 

 powerless, like all others that have been tried 

 and failed to do good. Dr. Lacerda himself, 

 although he attributes the highest value to it 

 as a chemical antidote, both as a powerful ox- 

 idising agent, and by the action of the potash, 

 says, 'as to the idea of finding a physiological 

 antidote for snake-poisoning, I entirely agree 

 My conclusions with you that it is a Utopia.' Although I found 

 of liquor that liquor potassse practically answered the same 



potassse. ^ 



purpose as pennanganate of potash, it did not 

 decompose the venom, but merely destroyed the 

 tissues in which the venom was lying, thereby 

 preventing its absorption ; and it was subsequent- 

 ly discharged with the slough. This was proved 

 by the fact that when the venom and liq. potassse 

 were mixed and injected subcutaneously, no con- 



