
NATURAL HISTORY. 
When abird or a wild animal is killed, that is the end of it. 
If photographed, it may still live and 
its educational and scientific value is multiplied indefinitely. 
SNAKE BITE ANI ITS TREATMENT. 
I read in September Recreation, A. K. 
Stetson’s article on “Treatment of Snake 
Bite,” and was surprised to notice several 
errors therein. He advises one bitten by 
a poisonous snake to use permangate of 
soda. There is such a drug, but it is not 
used as an antidote for snake bite. I sup- 
pose he means permanganate of potassium, 
from his saying it is the only known 
agent that will fully destroy the venom 
without also destroying the tissues. 
Even that is not so. Permanganate of po- 
tassium is apt to produce ulceration, and 
in consequence, healing may be long de- 
layed. Still, it is a good remedy to use, 
if none better be at hand. Chromic acid 
has been found superior, as its action is 
quicker and no destruction of tissue is likely 
to occur after its use If employing perman- 
ganate of potassium, use a I to 2 per cent. 
solution hypodermically in and around 
the wound. In making use of chromic 
acid, Professor Kaufmann, of France, -who 
instituted a series of experiments with it, 
and obtained from it the best results, ad- 
vises 2 or 3 drops of an aqueous solution, 
I to 100, of chromic acid, injected to the 
extreme depth of the puncture of each fang. 
Then several similar injections to be made 
around the wound. The infected part to 
be kneaded, to bring the acid more thor- 
oughly in contact with the venom, after 
which the wound to be punctured with the 
point of a knife to allow the escape of 
serum, continuing the kneading to facilitate 
the discharge. 
With the treatment I advise hypodermic 
injections, not in the wound, of strych- 
nine until its effect can be noticed, shown 
by slight muscular spasms. The patient 
should not be allowed to sleep, except for 
short intervals, for the first 24 hours. 
Mr. Stetson advises whiskey to be given 
“copiously, not fearing intoxication.” It 
should be remembered that a large quantity 
of whiskey acts as a heart depressant, while 
a small quantity is a stimulant, and as the 
heart is to be supported by stimulation, 
under no circumstances should the person 
bitten be made intoxicated. 
Many persons believe that nearly all 
snakes are poisonous and should be de- 
stroyed. Such belief is largely the result 
of ignorance combined with prejudice. Man, 
as a rule, in his savage desire to kill some- 
thing, loses no opportunity to destroy the 
life of every creature whose usefulness he 
does not understand. Snakes are useful ani- 
229 
mals, destroying millions of such pests as 
mice, rats, moles, poisonous insects, etc., and 
in consequence ought to be allowed to live. 
Poisonous snakes, of which there are but 
few varieties in this country, should, of 
course, be destroyed. 
The only poisonous snakes in the United 
States, whose bite can cause death, are the 
rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth, water 
moccasin and coral snake. The last named, 
however, is found only in the far Southern 
States, and there, as a rule, living under 
ground. The poisonous snakes of this coun- 
try can be easily distinguished from the 
non-poisonous ones by a pit or hole, located 
on each side of the face, between the nos- 
tril and the eye. These are called “pit- 
vipers,’ and have a vertical pupil; the 
only exception being the coral snake, which 
has no such pit and has a round pupil. An- 
other distinguishing feature in poisonous 
snakes is the presence of 2 or more fangs, 
located on the anterior part of the upper 
jaw. The spreading adder, that so many 
believe to be poisonous, is as harmless as a 
kitten; still thousands are killed every year 
by persons ignorant of its usefulness, and 
who mistake it for the deadly copperhead, 
which it somewhat resembles. 
G. E. Roehrig, M. D., Chicago, III. 
In the August number of your splendid 
magazine I find a description of traps and 
snares to catch snakes, also mention of the 
best antidote to the venom of the poisonous 
snakes of North America. 
I desire to say a word against the con- 
demnation of ammonia as an antidote to 
snake venom. I do not undervalue the au- 
thority quoted, but during 35 years of prac- 
tice I have treated patients suffering from 
bites from most, if not all, varieties of pois- 
onous reptiles in Texas, Arkansas, Indian 
Territory and other Southwestern States. I 
treated my patients conscientiously and suc- 
cessfully, and I used ammonia: 
It is well known to the profession that 
poisons like that under consideration pro- 
duce an acid condition of the blood of the 
victim. We also know that ammonia is 
an alkali and a diffusible stimulant. To 
neutralize the acid produced by the venom 
and at the same time stimulate the heart's 
action seems to me a rational treatment. I 
have yet to see any destruction of the veins 
from its use. I suppose that deplorable con- 
dition might occur from its abuse. As to 
permanganate of potash, I deem it an 
excellent after-treatment, as it abounds 
in oxygen and therefore and thereby elim- 
