392 



UNITED STATES, 



der beneath each fang and towards the middle of 

 .the lower jaw, communicating with the root of ^the 

 vteeth, which are pierced at their bases, and this 

 opening commmiicates with the bladder containing 

 the poison. The old teeth of the rattle- snake drop 

 every year, and are replaced by new teeth. 



The following experiments on the venom of the 

 rattle-snake, by Dr. Brickell of Savannah, are very 

 interesting. 



On putting a slip of litmus paper into the mouth 

 rof a rattle-snake five feet long, and disabled by 

 blows of a stick applied to the back, and then press- 

 ing the head, by placing the foot on it, the poisoia 

 squirted out to the distance of some feet. Some of 

 -the poison struck above the eye of the gentleman who 

 performed the operation for him; he wiped it olF 

 with his pocket handkerchief, and no harm ensued; 

 ^some struck on his white cotton waistcoat, and tinged 

 it of a yellowish colour, inclining to brown. 



The part of the litmus paper, which he made of a 

 sky blue, had its blue entirely discharged, and be- 

 came white. Alight band of red was to be seen 

 between the part of the paper touched, and untouched 

 by the poison. Dipping it, when dry, in a solution 

 of fixed alkali (ley) restored the former blue co- 

 lour. 



The above experiments would seem to explain 

 the great utility of alkaline remedies in the disease 

 produced by the bite of venomous serpents. Dr. 

 Brickell therefore recommends their use, and cites 

 a case in which he gave frequently five or six grains 

 of salt of tartar (pearl ash is nearly the same) dis- 

 sglved in a cup of water. Tiie part bitten being 



