; 4 
REPORTS OF CASES. 425 
_ 
I produced by the venom, but as a direct antidote it fails, and this 
is proved by the fact that a mixture of alcohol and venom is no 
less deadly than the venom itself. It has been claimed that per¬ 
sons in an intoxicated condition, or those habitually indulging in 
alcoholic liquor cannot be poisoned by venomous snakes, but 
abundant proof to the contrary exists, notably in , the case of 
Adam Lake, reported by Dr. Horner in the North Amer. Med. 
and Surg. Jour ., 1831, XI., 227. This man had been in the habit 
•* 
of taking from half a pint to a pint of alcoholic liquor daily, and 
was intoxicated when bitten by a rattlesnake. Notwithstanding 
the services of excellent'physicians, a number of reputed antidotes 
being used, he died in less than twenty-four hours. The proper 
use of alcohol in snake bite, and conditions under which it should 
be employed, will be considered nnder the treatment of snake bite 
further on. 
{To be continued .) 
REPORTS OF CASES, 
A CASE OF DYSTOKIA. 
By C. H. Peabody, D.Y.S. 
On the evening of September 3d I was called about four and 
one half miles from the city to see a mare ten years old trying to 
expel a dead foetus. Pulse, 50 ; respiration, 20; temperature, 101°. 
History .—The mare showed symptoms of foaling August 25, 
when she had quite severe labor pains and rupture of the foetal 
membranes. From that time until I saw her, had had consider¬ 
able straining. On examination I found a thigh and croup 
presentation. It was impossible to reach either hock ; the only 
portion of the extremities I could reach, was the crural region on 
the near side. 
After lubricating the parts as well as possible with lard and 
my arms and hands with carbolized oil, I proceeded to shove the 
foetus forward and to flex the leg up, but found I could not. I 
then decided on embryotomy. 
Taking a hook-shaped knife I cut through the skin and mem¬ 
branes of the thigh as deep as possible, tearing the muscles with 
