OF SNAKES ON THE HUMAN BODY. 
S3 
or entirely prevented, while the local malady was invariably more considerable, than where no ligature had 
intercepted the course of the poison.* Hence it has been conjectured that the poison, so confined, may 
expend its force in producing the local disease in the vicinity of the bite; or in a certain time may become 
so changed, as to be admitted into the circulation, with little or no danger.f 
Experience only can decide on the justness of this conjecture ; and experience hitherto, so far as respects 
the human subject, affords but little assistance. It is therefore a matter highly meriting future attention in 
India, as tending to regulate or direct the practice of ligatures, as well as of amputation, both which have 
been found for certain animals, the only infallible remedies against the deleterious power of the poison of 
the European viper, when employed in due time. 
The operation of viperine poison, though very rapid, is not instantaneous; a certain time intervenes before 
its effects become visible; and this in some animals, has been nearly ascertained by experiments. In pigeons, 
where amputation, or ligature, was employed within twenty seconds after the bite; and, in guinea pigs, within 
five minutes; mortal consequences were prevented : but if longer deferred, the animals infallibly died 
In respect to the human body, the precise time within which amputation, or ligatures, may be employed 
with success, remains as yet unknown; and, as experiments here are not admissible, it can only be discovered 
in the tedious progress of incidental observation. In the mean time, the efficacy of both, may not only be 
inferred by analogy, from their success in brutes, but is supported in some degree, by experience in the 
human species. Difficulty must, indeed, arise from ignorance of such circumstances as render amputation 
absolutely necessary; but ligature is not liable to the same objections. 
A circumstance, in regard to amputation, which occurred in the course of the Abbd Fontana's experiments 
on pigeons, deserves particular notice. Where it was performed too late to prevent the mortal effect of the 
poison, death seemed rather to be accelerated than retarded, by the removal of the local malady with the limb,§ 
which could not be considered as a consequence of the simple amputation, because pigeons, when not poisoned, 
always survived the operation. 
In regard to ligature, he ascertained its success, though not applied so tight as entirely to stop the circu¬ 
lation; || and he considers this as confirming an opinion, that the poison was communicated by the blood, 
not by the more minute vessels : having found by former experiments, that when applied to superficial wounds 
of the skin, no ill effects followed. 
The Abbe's experiments on this head are more particularly interesting, as ligature, if equally secure, must 
always be preferable to amputation; besides its being suited for more general application. ** 
• Traite sur le Venin de la Vipcre, Tome II. p. 51. f lb. p. 24. 4 lb. Tome I, p. 237. 243. 249. Tome II. p, 15. 28. 
§ lb. Tome I. p. 246. 250. || lb. Tome II. p. 22. 
** Ligature in the case of venomous bites, made part of the practice of the ancients. “ Igituv in primis supra vulnus id membrum deligandum est: 
“ non tamen nimium vehementer, ne torpeat.” (De Medicina, Lib. V. cap. 27.) In this, which Celsus had borrowed from his predecessors, he was 
followed by Galen, and the subsequent Greek physicians, as also by the Arabians. (Galen de Locis Affect. Lib. III. c. 7. AJlius, Tctrab. IV- Serm. I. 
c. 25. Avicenn. Lib. IV. Fen. 7. Trac. 4. cap. 27.) 
From the Abbe Fontana’s manner of expressing himself on the subject of ligature, it would seem that he had not adverted to its being practised by the 
ancients. (Traite, Tome II. p. 41.) He remarks, that neither Redi nor Mead made any mention of it, and that what Kempfer had said of it, would 
rather have discouraged the trials he was induced to make from his own discoveries, (p. 44.) As to Kempfer, he surely is, without cause, accused of 
credulity in the passage alluded to, (Amcsnit. Exot. Fascic. III. p. 573.) and his character as a careful and faithful observer, unjustly called in question. 
(Traite, Tome II. p. 44.) The Abbe, indeed, afterwards discovered, (p. 69. 77.) that he had misstated Kempfer’s opinion of the snake-stone; and it is only 
to be regretted, that he had not more explicitly retracted the harsh insinuation contained In page 41. His respect, however, for Kempfer’s authority, 
Induced hirn to make many trials of the method by ligature, scarification, and application of Theriac, conjoined; but the result of his experiments was 
unfavourable to the practice, (p, 79.) 
