362 
H. C. YARROW. 
reported by a French physician, of a person bitten by a viper, in 
which the very grave symptoms developed had been cured by the 
administration of jaborandi, which produced copious salivation 
and perspiration, the dangerous effects of the venom gradually 
disappearing. 
This case was looked up and was found in the Gaz. Hebd. de 
de Med. et Chir Far., 1882, XIX. 835, the reporter being Dr. 
Josso. He states that the patient was bitten by a viper between 
the thumb and index finger, and that when called to see her, all 
the characteristic dangerous symptoms of poisoning from snake 
venom were present, notwithstanding that phenic acid had been 
freely used as a supposed antidote. Having seen an account of 
the use of jaborandi by the South Americans in snake bite, he 
determined to give it a trial, and four grammes of the leaves were 
infused in a glass of water and given at 2 p. m. of the 13th inst., 
and on the 14th the patient was well with the exception of pains 
in the arms and some swelling, which lasted for three weeks after 
the accident. As already stated, copious salivation and perspira¬ 
tion were produced, but no mention is made of any action upon 
the kidneys. As no other cases had been reported, and the writer 
being aware that venom was supposed to be eliminated by the skin 
and kidneys, he determined to examine the subject thoroughly. 
The testimony, so far as could be ascertained, is as follows : 
Dr. B. S. Barton in “ An account of the most effective means 
of preventing the deleterious consequences of the bite of the 
Crotalus horridusov rattlesnake” (sm. 4to. Phila., 1792), speaks 
of the use of the common garden rue (Ruta Graveolens) as used 
by the Indians of New Jersey to produce copious perspiration as a 
cure for rattler’s bite, giving two tablespoonfuls of the juice 
every two hours until violent sweating was produced. The author 
thinks it may have been of service. Tn some cases after a bite, a 
ligature was applied above the injured part, wound scarified, and 
salt and gunpowder laid in the wound, over the whole being bound 
a piece of white walnut bark (Juglans alba.') Early settlers do 
this. The salt and gunpowder excite a discharge of blood from 
the scarified part, especially of serum, and the white walnut bark 
possesses the evacuant power of cantharides, and contributes to 
