454 
SNAKE  POISON  AND  ITS  ANTIDOTE. 
with  very  good  success  in  cases  of  bites,  and  also  as  a  propliy- 
lactic,  by  inoculation  (in  the  point  of  the  shoulder),  for  preserv- 
ing themselves  harmless  against  these  poisons.  For  this  purpose 
incisions  are  made  at  the  lower  point  of  attachment  of  the  del- 
toid muscles,  in  the  same  manner  as  for  vaccination,  and  into 
these  are  introduced  small  pellets  of  cotton  (of  the  size  of  a  mil- 
let seed)  saturated  with  an  alcoholic  tincture  of  the  Alconcito. 
Care  is  taken  to  keep  within  doors  and  out  of  the  wet  and  dew 
for  from  fifteen  to  twenty  days,  after  which  period  the  inocula- 
tioxi  is  concluded.  Of  the  efficacy  of  this  process,  I  can  say 
that  I  have  repeatedly  tested  it  on  dogs,  in  a  district  where  every 
dog  not  inoculated,  if  bitten  by  a  snake,  invariably  dies,  and 
have  never  known  an  inoculated  dog  to  show  any  inconvenience 
from  the  bite  of  the  most  venomous  viper.  This  plant  is  the 
Aristoloquia  Colomhiana.  In  Brazil  the  curers  use  the  tincture 
of  the  Aristoloquia  milJiomeus,  or  Arist.  grancli floras.  In  the 
United  States  the  Indians  use  the  Serpentaria^  or  Aristoloquia 
Virginia?} a,  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  Arist.  Colo., 
or  the  g r an di floras,  is  to  be  found  in  India. 
During  my  research  in  this  branch  of  natural  history  I  have 
collected  much  interesting  and  valuable  information,  all  of  which 
I  have  incorporated  in  a  small  work  that  will  shortly  be  pub- 
lished in  English  ;  but  the  reports  of  such  a  frightful  number  of 
deaths  from  snake  bites  as  English  journals  record  as  having  oc- 
curred during  the  past  year  in  certain  parts  of  India,  have  led 
me  to  address  this  letter  to  you,  that  the  truth  of  the  efficacy  of 
this  antidote  for  snake  bites  may  be  tested  by  every  person  who 
takes  any  interest  in  the  matter,  and  that  these  tests  may  be  so 
effectually  made  that  a  point  of  such  vital  importance  as  the  dis- 
covery of  the  specific  antidote  for  these-  poisons  may  be  known 
throughout  the  world. 
I  indulge  the  hope  that  I  may  see  repeated  corroborations  of 
the  results  of  mj'  own  humble  labors  in  this  specialty  through  so 
many  years. 
"^Lour  obedient  servant, 
S.  B.  HiGGINS. 
State  of  Magdalena,  April  10,  1870. 
— CJiem.  ^  Drug.,  Lond.,  June  15,  1870. 
