1904.] Easy Method of preventing Death from Snake Bite. 323 



"Experiments on a Method of Preventing Death from Snake 

 Bite, capable of Common and Easy Practical Application." 

 By Sir Lauder Brunton, M.D., F.K.S., Sir Joseph Fayrer, 

 Bart., K.C.S.L, F.K.S., and Leonard Eogers, M.D., B.S., 

 etc., Indian Medical Service. Eeceived February 22, — Eead 

 May 5, 1904. 



Although this paper is a joint one, the authors wish to mention that 

 each has had a different part in its production. The whole research 

 may be fairly regarded as the natural outcome of the work begun in 

 India nearly forty years ago by one of us (Fayrer), and this is the 

 only ground on which his name can be associated with this paper. 

 The instrument employed was designed by another of us (Brunton), 

 and the actual experimental work was entirely carried out by a third 

 (Rogers). 



The first experiments on the use of permanganate of potash as an 

 antidote to snake poison was made by one of us (Fayrer), in 1869, 

 both by the local application of a solution and by injection into the 

 veins,* on the ground of its being a chemical antidote. The animals 

 experimented upon were dogs, but the permanganate of potash did not 

 seem to have any power to avert the lethal action of the poison. It 

 was shown also by Wynter Blythf that Cobra venom when mixed in 

 vitro with permanganate of potash becomes innocuous. His results 

 were confirmed by two of us, who showed that some other substances 

 had a similar power. J They tried by the injection of strong solution 

 of permanganate of potash, and also by its local application to an 

 incision made over the bite, to destroy the lethal action of Cobra 

 poison previously injected, but their experiments were unsuccessful, 

 the permanganate appearing to be unable to overtake the poison which 

 had got the start of it. 



In 1881 Messrs. Couty and Lacerda§ made a number of experiments 

 upon the effect of permanganate of potash on serpents' venom, and 

 Lacerda found that permanganate of potash not only destroyed the 

 lethal action of the venom when mixed with it in vitro, but also 

 preserved life when a 1-per-cent. solution of permanganate was 

 injected into the tissues close to the place where the venom had been 



* 'The Thanatophidia of India,' 1872, p. 95, by J. Fayrer, M.D., London, 

 J. and A. Churchill. 



f " The Poison of the Cobra," by A. Wynter Blyth, M.K.C.S., ' The Analyst,' 

 February 28, 1877, p. 204. 



% "Note on the Effect of Various Substances in Destroying the Activity of 

 Cobra Poison," Brunton and Fayrer, 'Eoy. Soc. Proc.,' June 20, 1878, vol. 27, 

 p. 465. 



§ Couty and Lacerda, ' Comptes Rendus,' vol. 92, p. 465. 



