(Blackwood). An analysis of 50 fatal cases resulting from the bites of 
American venomous snakes showed that 8 persons died in less than one hour, 
13 between 1 and 6 hours, 18 in 1 to 24 hours, 4 died on the second day, 
i, died between the third and seventh day, 1 at the end of nine cays, 1 at 
the end of seventeen days, and 1 after morc than a month. The duration 
of illness following snake bite 1s subject to the widest variation, al— 
though in the majority of cases recovery from the constitutionel dis— 
turbaneces iS complete in two or tnree days, and in many cases in a fow 
hours. Cases in which illness is prolonged are septic in character and 
are rarely, if ever, due to the primary action of the venom. The most 
important complications of snake bites are produced by the absorption of 
putrefactive substances (sepsis) and by acute alcoholism, resulting from 
mistaken treatment. 
Tae bites of priemy rattlers and massasaugas (Sistrurus) are practi— 
cally never fatal to adults, except possibly through septic complications. 
These small rattlers are our least poisonous snakes, for of 20 cases on 
record, none ended fatally. Of 408 persons bitten oe larger rattlesnakes 
(Crotalus), 48 died; on the other hand, of 8 persons bitten by coral 
snakes Gieorabieus and ilicruroides) , 6 daeds) OF 97 Cases Om Daves py sue 
copperhead (Agkistrodon 1 mokasen) 5 ended fatally, and 9 persons out of 
53 bitten by the cotton—mouth water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) 
died. When death results from the bite of coral snakes Micrurus and 
Micruroides), it is usually between 18 and 24 hours after the eater 
Symptoms of drowsiness and general depression appear within an hour or 
so, but if the victim survives three or four davs, the danger of death 
passes away. 
Bites on the head and trunk are more dongerous than elsewhere, and 
the mortality rate for bites on Os upper extremities is practically 
double that for the lower. From 60 to 90 percent of the total number 
of cases result from bites on feet or legs. The mortality in children 
under 10 years of age bitten by our venomous snakes is at iecast double 
that of adul 
The number of deaths eacn year resulting from the bites of ou 
venomous snakes, however, indicates that these snakes are not so danger-— 
ous a pest asahas often been assume a This does Not mean that one should 
needlessly take chances of being oitten by a rattlesneke, for the bite, 
when not fatal, is followed by exceedingly painful symptoms end often im—- 
Pairment of the part bitten. Young rattlesnakes only five or six inches 
long are capable of injecting venom in quantities sufficient to require 
treatment. 
In the majority of the reported cases of persons bitten by venomous 
snakes, the victim was bittcn on the foot or leg, indicating that ea high 
degree of protection can be obtained by wearing high-topped shoes or 
heavy leggings, Quail hunters in the swamps and prairies of the South 
will find that the best protection is afforded by a peir of wairst—high 
rubber wading boots with special inserted canvas shank, Jn most cases a 
pair of leather puttces worn over leather shoes will give the necessary 
protection against snake bites 
