On the nature of snake-poison / [Sir Joseph Fayrer].

  • Fayrer, Joseph, Sir, 1824-1907.
Date:
[1884]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the nature of snake-poison / [Sir Joseph Fayrer]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    •2_ 15 likely to be beneficial, and as it may be dangerous to the operator, it cannot be recommended. If symptoms of poisoning set in and increase, if the patient become faint or depressed, unconscious, nauseated, or sick, and respiration begin to fail, with symptoms of paralysis of tongue and fauces, apply mustard poultices, or liq. ammoniae on a cloth, on the stomach and heart; con- tinue the stimulants, and keep the patient warm; but do not shut him up in a hot stifling room, or a small native hut; rather leave him in the fresh air than do this. Chronic, i.e., milder cases, must be treated on the same and general principles. Do not make the patient walk about; if depressed, rouse him with stimulants, mustard poultices, or ammonia, but let him rest. If the person be brought, as he or she probably will be, some time after the bite has been inflicted, and symptoms of poisoning are present, the same measures are to be resorted to. They are less likely to be successful, but nothing else can be done. In many cases the prostration is due to fear; the bite may have been that of a harmless or exhausted snake, and such will rapidly recover if so treated and encouraged. If poisoned, but, as frequently is the case, not fatally, these measures are still the most expedient. A plain summary or translation of these suggestions might be hung up in public places. The people should be warned against incantations, popular antidotes, and delay in seeking for aid. Every police inspector, of whatever grade, might be taught the application of the simple mea- sures I have described, and should be enjoined to make them known as widely as possible among the police and the people. There can be little doubt that recoveries from Indian snake-poisoning occur chiefly in cases where the snake has been exhausted or harmless, or has bitten imperfectly, and in a few cases where prompt interference has prevented the entry of the poison into the circulation. Let me now make some remarks on the remedial value of permanganate of potash. During my investigation of the value of remedies for snake-poisoning, permanganate of potash was not omitted, and I made the following experi- ments :— June 12th, 1869.—First, a fowl was bitten by a cobra in the thigh at 3 p.m.; at 3.1 fifteen drops of liq. potass, per- manganate were injected into the spot; dead in seven