398 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Dec. 1, 1900. 
between those countries interested — India, our- 
selves, and others ; but if such co-operation is 
not possible then I think we iniglit adopt a 
middle course such as Mr. Ferguson also sug- 
gested and pet Prof. Herdinan if he can spare 
his valuable time to ccme over liere and in colla- 
boration with Captain Donnan, our a;reat prac- 
tical expert — they will be, I am sure, able to 
Hive us some very valuable information especially 
regarding that interesting question — the lile 
history of the oyster. Ladies and gentlemen, 
I think we must all feel very grateful to Mr. 
Collett for the very interesting paper he has read. 
He said it was his zoological recreation. To 
us it has not only been a zoological recreation 
but zoological instruction, and I think we are 
much indebted to him for this practical and use- 
ful discussion which has followed the reading of 
his paper. I thank you again for the very kind 
way in which you have received it. (Applause.) 
At the close His Excellency shook bands with 
Mr. Collett and Captain Donnan, and inspected 
all the illustrative objects displayed around the 
table. He evinced considerable interest in the diving 
apparatus exhibited by Captain Donnan and the 
specimens of pearl shell which had been laid out 
The audience was some little time in dispersing 
even after His Excellency had left. 
To Capt. Donnan, Mr. Collett and Mr. Gerard 
Joseph belongs the credit of adding much to the 
interest of the meeting by the display of these 
"curios" as well as utilitarian displays connected 
with Pearl Fisheries. A section of a pearl was under 
a powerful microscope ; a display of different 
kinds of oysters including the largest " rnelea- 
grina" from Australia; copies of Mr. Saville 
Kent's large and profusely-illustrated books and 
other literature were made available and 
suspended at one side was an ample object-lesson 
of the mode in which the native diver did his 
work for Capt. Donnan, with stone held by coir 
ropes, place for his foot, the coir basket in 
which to gather the oysters, &c. The 
diving apparatus was mainly of coir and 
consisted of a rope with a heavy lead weight 
attached, beside a receiving basket of coir (in 
shape like an inverted tam-o'-shanter) into 
which the oysters were placed by the diver ; as 
many as 100 pearl oysters could be placed in the 
one basket at a time. 
The function terminated shortly after 11 p.m. 
SNAKE BITES AND ANTIDOTES. 
The following from the paper on Snakes by 
Dr. Gunther, of the British Museum, in th^ 
British Encyclopedia, is worth reproducing : — 
No antidote is«known capable of counteract 
ing or neutralising the action of snake-poison. 
Some years ago injections of ammonia or liquor 
potassee were recommended, but there is the 
obvious objection that hardly in one out of a 
thousand cases of snake-bite would either the 
appliances or the operator be at hand. Payrer's 
•xperiments, however, have distinctly disproved 
the efficacy of this remedial measure. Equally 
useless' is permanganate of potassium ; it is in- 
deed true that a solution of this compound des- 
troys the properties of snake-poison when mixed 
with it ; and therefore such of the poison as 
remains in the wound will be neutralised by the 
external application or injection of the perman- 
ganate, but the remedy is entirely without effect 
after the poison has passed into the circulation. 
Treatment ia therefore limited to endeavours to 
prevent by mechanical means the poison from 
entering the circulation, or by chemical agencies 
to destroy or remove as much of it as possible 
that remains in the wound, and to save the 
patient from the subsequent mental and physical 
depression by the free use of stimulants. What- 
ever is or can be done must be done immedi- 
ately, as a few seconds suffice to carry the poison 
into the whole vascular system, and the slightest 
delay diminishes the chances of the patient's re- 
covery. Courageous persons badlv bitten in a 
finger or toe are known to have saved their lives 
by tlie immediate amputation of the wounded 
member. To the mode of treatment summarized 
by Gunter* but little can be added. (1) If the 
wound is on some part of the extremities, one 
or rnore ligatures should be made as tightly as 
possible at a short distance above the wound, 
to stop circulation ; this is most effectually done 
by inserting a stick under the ligature and 
twisting it to the uttermost. The ligatures ,nre 
left until means are taken to destroy the virus 
in the wound and other remedial measures are 
resorted to, or until the swelling necessitates 
their removal. 2 The punctured wound.' should 
be enlarged by deep incisions, to cause a free 
efflux of the poisoned blood, or should be cut 
out entirely. (3) The wound should be sucked 
either by the patient or some other person who.se 
mouth is free from any solution of continuity. 
Cupping-glasses, where they can be applied, 
answer the same purpose, but not with the same 
effect. (4) By cauterisation with a red-hot iron, 
a live coal, nitrate of silver or carbolic or mineral 
acid, or by injections of permanganate of potas- 
sium, the poison which remains in the wound 
can be destroyed or neutralised. Ammonia applied 
to the wound as a wash and rubbed into the 
neighbouring parts is likewise undeniably of great 
benefit, especially in less serious cases, since it 
alleviates the pain and reduces the swelling. 
(5) Internally, stimulants are to be taken freely • 
they do not act as specifics against the virus,' 
but are given to excite the action of the heart, 
the contractions of which become feeble and irre- 
gular, to counteract the physical and mental 
depression, and to prevent a complete collapse. 
Brandy, whisky, and ammonia in any of its 
officinal forms should be taken in large doses 
and at short intervals. The so-called. " snake- 
stones " can have no other effect than, at the 
best, to act as local absorbents, and can be of 
use only in the very slightest cases. 
Elsewhere he says : — 
•'Certain stones reputed, on insufficient grounds, 
to possess efficacy as antidotes to snake-bites 
are known as snake-stones." 
ANTI-VENOMOUS SERUM. 
C Prepared by Dr. A. Calmette.) 
INSTRUCTIONS, f 
The antivenomous serum is serum taken from 
an ass or a horse immunised against venom of 
snakes. It will retain its effects if kept in as cool 
a place as possible, away from day light and 
without taking the phial out of its box. At or 
above the temperature of 50° Cent. — 122° Fahr. — 
the serum becomes inactive. Its preservation has 
been guaranteed by adding a very small quantity 
of camphor. 
Preventive Power. — The preventive power of 
the serum is, at the least, of 10,000 i.e., it is suffi- 
cient to inject rabbits preventively with a quan- 
tity of serum equal to l/10,000th of their weight 
*Beptiles of British India, Lomlon, 1864, 4to. 
t Referred to a week ago, but held over daily 
owing to continuous pressure on our apace. 
