The village-pastor's surgical and medical guide, in letters from an old physician to a young clergyman, his son.

  • Skrimshire, F. (Fenwick), 1774 or 1775-1855.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The village-pastor's surgical and medical guide, in letters from an old physician to a young clergyman, his son. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    the supposed acid quality of the poison. Of this I have no experience. Ihe viper (Coluber Berus of Linnaeus) is not an uncommon animal both in the woods and fens in this neighbourhood, and the bite of it occasion- ally produces high inflammation over the whole limb. Where suction of the wound cannot be had recourse to, and fully persisted in for hours, I ad- vise a tight ligature to be applied a little above the wound, till a surgeon arrive; or if the future treat- ment devolve upon yourself, apply a few drops of a strong solution of lunar caustic to the puncture, and if inflammation is already set up in the neigh- bouring parts, draw a moistened stick of lunar caustic over the inflamed surface a few times, as has of late been recommended in other inflamma- tions of the skin ; after which foment and poultice the part, and administer a smart dose of physic. The affected limb should be kept perfectly at rest, and, if it be the hand or arm, it should be sup- ported in a sling. Rest and low diet must be strictly enjoined until the inflammatory symptoms have subsided. Others have recommended olive oil as an antidote to the bite of the viper, and ad- vise that the whole limb should be well anointed and rubbed with this oil, as soon as possible after the bite, and be frequently repeated. I am dis- posed to give the preference to the former plan as better calculated to destroy the poison, and prevent