90 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



the system till more effectual means can be adopted. It is well to 

 suck the wound and make it bleed ; it is necessary also to make an 

 incision, so as to expose the internal parts, and then to cauterise the 

 wound immediately, either with a red-hot iron or by means of a 

 caustic agent. For this purpose the following composition may be 

 employed : — 



Perchloride of iron 60 grains. 



Citric acid 60 ,, 



Hydrochloric acid 60 „ 



Water 144 ,, 



A few drops of this is poured on the wounded part, which is then 

 covered with a small piece of lint. Iodine or iodinet of potassium can 

 also be employed. M. Viand-Marais has substituted the following 

 composition for this compound with great success : — 



Water 50 grains. 



Iodinet of Potassium 50 „ 



Metallic iodine 50 „ 



To facilitate the introduction of caustic into the wound, the same 

 naturalist has invented a little bottle closed with emery ; the stopper, 

 which is long and conical at the lower end, plunges into the liquid. 

 By means of this stopper the medicated substance can be made to 

 penetrate by drops as far as the bottom of the wound, which has 

 been previously enlarged by the bistoury. This little apparatus will 

 replace with advantage the bottle of volatile alkali with which viper- 

 hunters are usually furnished. But all these means are only useful 

 when applied immediately. The limbs and round about the wound 

 must, besides, be rubbed with ammoniacal liniments. Afterwards 

 emollient poultices should be used to lower the swelling and reduce 

 the chances of congestion ; while tonics, sudorifics, and sometimes 

 ammoniacal potions, should be given internally. 



It is a remarkable fact that this venom, which is one of the most 

 virulent poisons known, can be taken internally with impunity. It 

 is neither acrid nor burning, and only produces a sensation on the 

 tongue analogous to that caused by greasy matter. But if introduced 

 into a wound in sufficient quantities, it enters into the blood, and 

 causes death with frightful rapidity. This is a characteristic common 

 to all morbid and venomous virus. 



The strength of the venom varies according to the species of 

 Snake, and likewise the condition of the animal. The same species 

 is more dangerous in hot than in cold or temperate regions. The bite 



