Occasional Notes. 131 
poison by previous bites. The bite of some of the smaller Australian 
Diemenias and Hcplocephali is followed by no worse consequences than 
those arising from the sting of a wasp or a hornet, while immediately 
fatal cases are on record of persons bitten by the cobra or the 
large South-American Crotalines. In the second place it depends 
on the strength of the individual bitten : a man of strong phy- 
sical constitution and energetic mental disposition is better able to 
survive the immediate effects of the bite than a child or a per- 
son wanting in courage. Thirdly, it depends on the position and depth 
of the bite : the bite may be merely a superficial scratch, or may pene- 
trate a vein, producing immediate and fatal effects. It must be men- 
tioned also that Fayrer is distinctly of opinion that the poison of some 
kinds is more powerful than that of others. The mere shock produced 
by the bite of a snake upon a nervous person may be sufficiently severe 
to be followed by symptoms of collapse, although no actual poisoning 
of the blood has taken place, or although the bite was that of an 
innocuous snake. It is said that persons have actually died under such 
circumstances from mere fright. The local appearances in the neigh- 
bourhood of a poisoned wound, which soon after the bite is much 
swollen and discoloured, and very painful, readily proves its character. 
Unfortunately no antidote is known capable of counteracting or neu- 
tralizing the action of the snake-poison. Some years ago injections of 
ammonia or liquor potassse 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. Fayrer's experi- 
ments, however, have distinctly disproved the efficacy of this remedial 
measure. Equally useless is permanganate of potassium ; it is indeed 
true that a solution of this compound destroys the properties of snake- 
poison when mixed with it ; and therefore such of the poison as remains 
in the wound will be neutralized by the external application or injection 
of the permanganate, but the remedy is entirely without effect after the 
poison has passed into the circulation. Treatment is 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. Whatever is, or can be done, must be done immediately, 
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 
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