464 Veterhiary Medicine. 



Among these insects only the female and neutres are provided 

 with stings, and they use them in self defence, when they or their 

 nests are interfered with. The irritation depends in the first place 

 upon the wound, but much more on the amount of venom left in 

 it, and in many cases on the presence of the sting, which being 

 barbed has been broken off and retained in the tissues. As a 

 rule if the insect is left undisturbed it withdraws the entire sting, 

 leaving a less irritating wound, but, if it is brushed off, the sting 

 is often broken and remains. The part stung swells up more or 

 less, presenting a white centre and a red cedematous periphery, 

 with much itching. Vesication may take place and exceptionally 

 a .small portion sloughs. Much depends on the individual stung, 

 bee-keepers after a number of .stings usually acquire an immunity 

 from the poison and are only affected by the slight wound, and 

 some animals and men have an innate immunity. Simple stings 

 are rarely hurtful to animals, but when horse or cow encroaches 

 on a large colony, and is stung by a dense mass, the results may 

 be rapidly fatal. The animal is violently excited, breathing 

 hurried and panting, pulse rapid, weak and irregular, the parts 

 attacked are swollen, and there is great debility and prostration. 



In treating these cases an antidote to the formic acid may be 

 sought in solutions of bicarbonate of soda or ammonia, or in 

 permanganate of potash or even dilute carbolic acid. Cold ap- 

 plications are soothing and beneficial, cold water, ice, solution of 

 lead acetate or chloral. The stings present in the wounds should 

 be sought and extracted with fine forceps. Finally the heart 

 may be supported by the injection of digitalin, strophanthus or 

 nitro-glycerine. 



SNAKE BITES. 



Grooved teeth and venom glands in upper jaw ; inflict two punctures ; in 

 some specie.s four, may tear. Warm, sunny, dry places and by water. Vi- 

 pers of Europe least hurtful ; American snakes more so ; S. American, Asi- 

 atic, African and Australian most. Symptoms : Two small punctures 

 (sometimes four), great pain, swelling, violet color, oozing of black incoag- 

 ulable blood, extensive sloughing if death is deferred ; great prostration, 

 weakness, difficult breathing, thirst, nausea, retching, unconsciousness, 

 delirium, convulsions, weak, failing heart ; action on respiratory and car- 

 diac centres and blood. Extravasations of liquid blood around bite, in 

 serosas and internal organs. Gravity affected by vigor of snake, quantity 



