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

  • Joseph Fayrer
Date:
[1884]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    23/26 page 23
    Tugela river, was bitten in the leg just below the knee, and, after the lapse of a few seconds, became sensible of extreme shock, and at once felt certain that a snake had bitten him. He rode back to camp, and, when first seen, ten minutes after the infliction of the injury, was in the following con- dition. There was pain, ecchymosis, swelling, and partial paralysis of the bitten part. He was so exhausted that he had nearly fallen off his horse. The forehead and hands were bathed in cold perspiration ; the extremities were cold and pale; there was great nervous depression, with sense of impending death; respiration was hurried. Quickly following this, bilious vomiting set in, with loss of co-ordi- nating power; numbness of extremities and lips, and dragging sensation of the face; intense pain in neck, troublesome cough, with thick viscid expectoration. The pulse was, from the first, weak and rapid, rising from 120 to 150; restlessness and anxiety became very distressing. Vomiting ceased at 9 p.m., but soon afterwards still graver symptoms developed; vision rapidly failed; the eyelids drooped, the speech became thick and nasal; there was paralysis of the tongue and soft palate, with dysphagia. The were also chronic convulsions of the upper extremities of the muscles of the chest; the breathing was stertorous, with low muttering. At 12.45, he spoke for the last time, and then lapsed into a semi-comatose condition, and died at 2 a.m., ten hours after the bite. Tight compression was made above the seat of injury, between the bite and the heart; wound enlarged, and an attempt made to remove all the blood and poison from it. Nitrate of silver and ammonia were applied freely to the surface of the wound. Ammonia and diffusible stimu- lants were administered by mouth. To relieve the dis- tressing vomiting, sinapisms were applied to region of stomach, and brandy, with soda-water, given; the restless- ness was combated with hypodermic injections of morphia (half a grain for a dose); the morphia gave great relief, which, however, was only transitory. Hot water-bottles were applied to the feet, and stimulants were given with an unsparing hand, but were not always retained. Ammonia was also injected subcutaneously. Post mortem examination made nine hours after death ; body well nourished. Cadaveric rigidity well marked. Hypostatic congestion. Great discolouration of scrotum and finger-nails. Situation of bite on left leg at upper and inner side of calf, about three inches below internal con-
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3