Page:The poisonous snakes of India. For the use of the officials and others residing in the Indian Empire (IA poisonoussnakeso01ewar).pdf/16

 4 TREATMENT OF SNAKE POISONING.

6. Doubtless mortification of the parts below the ligatures may be caused, if they are retained beyond from half an hour to an hour; but, in patients who have been effectively bitten by any of the venomous snakes described in this work, the danger to life from mortification, which can easily be dealt with by the surgeon in due course, is not to be compared to that to be encountered by the uncontrolled absorption of the poison into the blood. In the first case, life may be saved; in the second, judging from the vast experience of Sir Joseph Fayrer and others, death is almost certain to follow,

7. In addition to the above measures, which, notwithstanding their apparent severity, are nevertheless merciful and humano, moderato doses of stimulants may be given until the physician or surgeon arrives. Thus fifteen drops of pure liquor armonize in an ounce of water may be administered every twenty minutes, until three or four doses are taken. For a similar purpose a table spoonful of brandy, rum, whisky, or arrack thoroughly distilled in a wineglassful of water may be given from time to time until, say, a couple of ounces have been swallowed. It is doubtful whether any good is derived from over-stimulation; under-is better than over-stimulation. Thus care must be taken not to push the doses of alcohol in the shape of brandy, run, whisky, or arrack, so as to produce inebriation. During the exhibition of stimulants, nourishment in a liquid form—animal soups, and milk, or eggs beaten up with brandy, &c., should be employed. If the depression and feeling of sinking be marked, mustard plasters should be applied to the region of the lieart or pit of the stomach, or over the medulla, behind the nape of the neck, or to all three regions at once. No apparent benefit is derived from compelling the patient to inove about; on the contrary, such enforced exertion increases the tendency to exhaustion. Give the patient rest in a cool and thoroughly well-ventilated room, protected from the sun; he should be fanned with the punkah if needful. All these measures may be had recourse to by even untrained persons. Sone of the means suggested are certainly most severe, "and not such as under any other circumstances should be en- trusted to non-professional persons; but the alternative is so dreadful that, even at the risk of unskilful treatment, it is better that the patient should have this chance of recovery."--(Fayrer.) Galvanism to the heart and dia- phragin, and the Sylvester and Marshall IIall methods of artificial respira- tion have also been recoinmended in cases where the prostration is extreme.