SNAKE BITE AND ITS ANTIDOTE. 
267 
the Western States and Territories, he invariably carried with 
him, with a blind and unquestioning faith, a hypodermic syringe 
and some permanganate of potassa, prepared in case of serpent 
bite to promptly administer according to de Lacerda’s directions, 
but his confidence was weakened to a certain extent by the results 
of the experiments of Vincent Richards, Fayrer and others, and, 
to verify if possible the different statements, he determined to 
experiment himself with the permanganate, and as will be seen 
from the recorded notes below, was forced to the conclusion that 
this salt w r as of little or no value, at least in poisoning from 
Crotalus venom, if de Lacerda’s suggestions only are followed. 
It was not intended at first to take up the subject of other so-called 
antidotes, but a good supply of serpents having been obtained by 
the National Museum, by whose co-operation the experiments 
were performed, it was thought advisable to continue the investi¬ 
gation still further. In addition to this reason, quite a number of 
persons, hearing of the experiments, have from time to time sent 
various reputed antidotes or have suggested certain methods of 
cure. 
The venom used was obtained from several healthy specimens 
of the northern rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) in the manner 
recommended by Weir Mitchell. The snake is seized a short 
distance behind the head by means of a staff, having at its end a 
thong of leather passing over the end and through a staple, and 
this is tightened or loosened, as occasion may require, by means 
of a string extending up the handle. It has been found necessary 
not to confine the snake’s head too tightly, as otherwise it cannot 
be induced to strike. The head being secured, a stick having its 
end covered with absorbent cotton is pressed against the snake’s 
mouth, and it is teased until sufficiently irritated to strike its 
fangs into the cotton, which receives the venom and obviates any 
danger to the fangs, as it has been found in allowing snakes to 
strike against a saucer the fangs are frequently broken off. 
Generally a snake will strike three or four times very viciously, 
and then relapse into sullen apathy. We have in vain endeavored 
to procure venom from our snakes by pressing over the poison 
glands, but this has been unsuccessful except in one instance unless 
