154 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



diate amputation of the part would, of course, 

 possibly save life, as might the ligature, &c. as 

 before recommended. It is somewhat humiliat- 

 ing to have to confess that practically, so far as the 

 treatment of snake-poisoning is concerned, we 

 are nearly as helpless as our forefathers were two 

 centuries ago. Unfortunately, our helplessness is 

 not confined to the cure of snake-poisoning, for 

 there are several diseases in existence which baffle 

 the skill and knowledge of the wisest and most 

 learned of our profession. It is, however, some sat- 

 isfaction to those who have spent the best part of 

 their lives in conducting these disheartening in- 

 vestigations, to think that their work may, in 

 some measure.serve as landmarks for the guidance, 

 not only of future enquirers, engaged in the parti- 

 cular field which has been their special study, 

 but of those who may be called upon to investi- 

 gate the nature of any of the other animal poisons, 

 which is at present shrouded in profound mystery." 

 We come now to the subject of the most 

 recent researches into the physiological chemistry 

 of the venoms. 



Weir MftcheM 



and Reicharfs Iq April 1883, Drs. S. Weir Mitchell and 



recent resear- ^ ' 



physiol^'^aj Edward T. Keichart of Philadelphia, published a 

 """totoSI! "' preliminary report on the chemistry of the venom 



