76 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 



The temperament of different species of poisonous snakes also influences 

 the degree of danger. For example, the comparatively slight mortality from 

 rattiesnakes is often due to insufficient erection of their fangs before the blow 

 is given. According to Weir Mitchell, seven-eighths of all cases of rattlesnake 

 poisoning will recover. On the other hand, Vipera russellii and Bitis arietans, 

 give special pressure to their bites by the violent motion of their entire body. 



The deaths caused by the European vipers, chiefly Vipera berus, are few. 

 In nine years (from 1883 to 1892) 14 fatal cases out of 216 bites are reported 

 in Germany, while in Switzerland, in nine years (1877-1886), 7 deaths are 

 reported. The vipers of southern Europe are not so fatal as the common 

 Pelias of the northern countries. Fontana described 2 fatal cases out of 62, 

 and 80 to 90 deaths have been reported since the time of Fontana; but half 

 of this number were children. According to Viaud- Grand Marais, 44 deaths 

 out of 316 cases occurred in the Vendue and the Departement Loire-inferieure, 

 or 14 per cent mortality. Some large animals, such as the horse, ass, and cow, 

 are also fatally poisoned when vipers strike at the nose, lips or tongue. Goats 

 and sheep are said to be more frequently killed by the vipers than cattle. 



The depth and locality of the wound are important conditions; the deeper 

 the wound the more dangerous the results. Wounds in the face, especially 

 in the lips and tongue, are more dangerous than in the limbs, while bites upon 

 the fingers or toes are also very dangerous, owing to the fact that the fangs can 

 be driven deeper into the tissue. 



The time intervening between the bite and death varies in different venoms. 

 The quickest fatal cases reported are 2 minutes in a crotalus bite (Barton) 

 and 5 minutes in a Javanese snake bite (Kuhl). In these cases the venoms 

 were most probably thrown directly into the blood circulation. 



As to the time of death after the bite Fayrer gives the following statistics, 

 based on 65 fatal cases of cobra poisoning: 22.96 per cent died less than 2 

 hours after the bite; 24.53 P er cent died between 2 and 6 hours thereafter; 

 23.05 per cent died between 6 and 12 hours thereafter; 9.39 per cent died 

 between 12 and 24 hours thereafter; 21.10 per cent died after 24 hours. 



The bite of the famous Lachesis lanceolatus of Martinique causes death 

 generally after one or two days and very seldom earlier than 6 hours from 

 the time of the bite. With some species of Lachesis death may occur after 

 2 to 5, or even as late as 10 days. Death from the bite of Crotalus may occur 

 even after 16 days (Home). The viperine bites, excepting certain tropical 

 genera, are not quickly fatal, but cause marked local and general disturbances, 

 which bring about death after days, weeks, or months; but when the venom 

 gets into the circulatory system death may occur more quickly under the 

 symptoms of the sudden loss of consciousness, delirium, tetanus, and trismus. 



When death follows after a long period, the anatomical changes, such as 

 haemorrhage and local necrosis, are always pronounced. Even when patients 

 recover, local paralysis of most diverse parts of body may persist a long time, 

 together with various local manifestations in the portions of the bitten side. 

 Paresthesia of various kinds, pemphigoid eruptions, and pain are the sequelae. 



