322 
H. C. YARROW. 
dropsies are of frequent occurrence (as in water-braxy ), and iu 
which blood medicines, restoratives and alteratives, are required. 
4. A depraved condition of the blood, usually due to the 
action of putrefactive germs producing blood poisoning ( toxicce - 
mia); marked by rapid effusions of water and blood into the sys¬ 
tem and rapid putrefaction, as in stinking ill or red braxy ; and 
in which medicines are of little use, though antiseptics and stimu¬ 
lants may be given. 
(To be continued .) 
SNAKE BITE AND ITS ANTIDOTE-III. 
EXPERIMENTS WITH CROTALUS YENOM AND REPUTED ANTI¬ 
DOTES, WITH NOTES ON THE SALIYA OF HELODERMA 
GILA MONSTER.”) 
By H. C. Yakrow, M.D., Curator Dept. Reptiles, U. S. National Museum. 
(From Forest and Stream s). 
(Continued from page 275.) 
Let us now examine the testimony of others as to the efficacy 
of the permanganate as an antidote to serpent venom. The first 
to repeat de Lacerda’s experiments was his former assistant Dr. 
Gouty, who declared in the Compt. Rend. Acad, des Sc., Par., 
1882, April 24, that the permanganate was not an antidote, and 
that a favorable opinion upon its merits should be reserved until 
further experiments had been tried. 
M. Vulpian,in Compt. Rend. Acad, des Sc., Par., 1882, March 
6, 613, states that he endeavored to repeat de Lacerda’s experi¬ 
ments with the permanganate of potash and had come to the con¬ 
clusion that an intravenous injection of some centigrammes of per¬ 
manganate can have no influence upon venom after it has been 
taken up by the circulation, particularly as it is decomposed after 
a few instants, and in case an effective dose be given, death 
might result from the antidote. In fact he says it is difficult to 
explain how the bites of Bothrops were cured in Brazil by the 
permanganate unless sueh bites are not always mortal. In his 
resume he says there can be no doubt but that the permanganate 
can only be useful after recent bites, for if one or several hours 
