SNAKE BITE AND ITS ANTIDOTE. 
453 
natant liquid can be poured off carefully into a perfectly clean 
new vial, using a bit of sponge in the neck of a small funnel to 
filter it, when it is ready for use. Never mix galls of different 
species.” 
Method of Administration.—“For all ordinary cases of bite, 
five or ten drops of prepared gall (selecting, if possible, that of 
the kind causing the bite) in half a tumbler of water well mixed, 
to administer a tablespoonful of the mixture every five, ten, fif¬ 
teen or twenty minutes, according to the nature of the symptoms, 
and varying the dose from three to ten drops of gall, according 
to the age, sex, condition and susceptibility of the patient, will 
afford entire relief. In fifty cases treated, I have given ten-drop 
doses of gall in four ounces of water in two cases only, all the 
others having been cured by five-drop doses, continuing the rem¬ 
edy at more prolonged intervals, as the symptoms of the action 
of the poison disappear, and in the ten cases cited, where a five- 
drop dose was given in tablespoonfuls every five minutes without 
producing relief, the dose was immediately repeated, and entire 
relief ultimately ensued. 
“ I invariably make a deep cruciform incision in the wound 
with a lancet and bathe the limb in water as hot as can be borne, 
into which I pour a few drops of prepared gall. When the blood 
flows a bright red (and not before) a small pellet of cotton or 
sponge, saturated with the gall (prepared) applied to the wound 
and secured with a bandage will stop the flow of blood, unless a 
large vein or artery is punctured by the fang; in this case cauter¬ 
ization is necessary.” 
As a comment upon the method of cure proposed by Higgins 
the reader is referred to Rep. No. 27 in Rep. Sanit. Meas. in 
India, fol., London, 1875, VII., 274, entitled, “ Experiments at 
St. Bartholomew’s Hospital to test the effect of Mr. Higgins’ an¬ 
tidote to snake poison.” Present, Dr. Forbes Watson, Dr. Fay- 
rer, Dr. Brunton and Mr. S. B. Higgins. Several experiments 
were tried, the antidote being administered by Mr. Higgins him¬ 
self, but in each case it failed to have any antidotal effect. The 
committee state that the cobra poison used in these experiments 
was supplied by Dr. Fayrer, and that the antidote was prepared 
i 
