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Snake Bites.The effects vary with the condition and age of the individual, as well as with the part which is wounded. Children are more susceptible than adults. Wounds upon the extremities are usually less dangerous than those upon the trunk. Many persons who are apparently bitten by rattlesnakes suffer no injury beyond the mere mechanical damage. The reason for this is usually that the fangs penetrate the clothing before reaching the skin, and that the poison is arrested in this way and does not enter the flesh. It is furthermore true that the first stroke is the most dangerous, while the subsequent ones may be comparatively harmless. This fact is probably due to the ejection of most of the poison with the first blow, the subsequent strokes being accompanied with but little flow of the poisonous material. Dr. Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia, published in 1868 the results of a series of observations upon the poison of the rattlesnake. He found that this reptile cannot destroy itself by means of its own poison, as has been supposed. In fact it is generally true that poisonous reptiles are harmless toward others of the same species. Dr. Mitchell further found that the poison of the rattlesnake may be taken into the mouth or stomach of a man without doing him any injury, provided there be no cut or abrasion in the lining membrane of these organs through which the virus could enter the system. The first effects of the introduction of rattlesnake poison into the human body are very similar to the symptoms of shock as it occurs after the infliction of a severe wound. The patient becomes extremely pale and cold ; sometimes the skin exhibits a yellowish hue ; the surface is covered with clammy perspiration ; the pulse is very rapid and feeble ; nausea and vomiting frequently occur; loss of consciousness, delirium and convulsions are sometimes observed. In the meantime the skin in the vicinity of the wound swells to an enormous size and becomes mottled with blood which has escaped from the vessels. In many cases the patient dies during this stage.' The time which elapses between the infliction of the wound and the fatal result may vary from half an hour to five or six weeks. If the individual survive the first effects, he is apt to suffer for days and weeks from a condition similar to that of blood-poisoning, which it undoubtedly is. Abscesses form in the neighboihood of the bite, and sometimes at distant parts of the body as well. It is generally known among farmers that hogs possess an immunity against the bite of the rattlesnake. This curious fact is often utilized for the purpose of destroying these reptiles. If hogs be turned loose in a locality which is frequented by rattlesnakes, they usually manage to destroy a considerable number of the reptiles in a few days. In fact, if the hogs be deprived of other food, they usually devour the rattlesnake. These snakes are considered most dangerous during the month of August. The fact is, that they inflict more bites about this time of year than at any other season ; the reason for this seems to be that the rattlesnake sheds his skin early in September, and that while the old skin is coming off, the reptile is blind, and strikes promiscuously in the direction of any object which approaches it. The one favorable feature of the rattlesnake, is the fact that the rattle is almost invariably sounded before the blow is inflicted - a circumstance which has saved many lives. There are several other venomous snakes whose bite is quite as deadly as that of the rattlesnake, and which are more dangerous because they give no warning. Treatment.-The treatment of rattlesnake bites has been the subject of much discussion in the scientific as well as the public press. Any number of remedies has been vaunted as " specifics " against the poison of the rattlesnake. Then there have been numerous " snake-stones," which have been asserted to possess the qualities ascribed to the familiar " mad-stones "-that is, they are said to possess the power of drawing the poison out of the wound. Minute and apparently truthful accounts of the wonderful properties of these stones appear now and then in some of the daily papers, usually at a season when there is a dearth of news. Most careful inquiry has failed to reveal the existence of any such stone which could demonstrate its supposed powers when put to the test. At different times various remedies have been presented by members of the medical profession as cures for the rattlesnake poison. Among these is ammonia, which is largely used by the Australian physicians, iodine, and the South American drug known as curara. None of these, however, have fulfilled the anticipations of_those who introduced them to the notice of the profession. There is, in fact, no known remedy which can be relied upon to counteract the effects of rattlesnake poison. In every case in which a person has been bitten by a rattlesnake, there are two things which should be done as quickly as possible. The first is to tie a bandage tightly around the limby above the wound. Anything which comes handy can be used for this purpose, such as a strap or a handkerchief; and it should be drawn very tightly in the hope of stopping the circulation of blood in the limb completely. The object of this is, of course, to prevent the introduction of the poison into the system, an object which can be attained only by arresting the circulation. The next thing to do is to suck the wound thoroughly. There should be no hesitation whatsoever on the part of any bystander to perform this office for the sufferer, for if the lips and tongue be free from scratches and cracks, there is no danger whatsoever in taking the poison into the mouth, or even in swallowing it. Although the act may be an unpleasant one, yet it may save the life of the patient. After this has been done, it will be well to cut out the skin and tissues around the wound. This should be done heroically and thoroughly. There need be no hesitation in making a free incision, since it will be at most a trifling loss of flesh which will soon be replaced if the individual live, while economy in the amount of flesh removed may lead to the retention of some of the poison and the death of the individual. If no one can be found with sufficient nerve to perform this operation, the wound should be thoroughly cauterized in the following way : A piece of iron wire or a small nail is heated white hot and then inserted firmly into the opening made by the fangs of the reptile ; or a piece of soft rag may be wound firmly about the end of a stick, dipped in nitric acid, and then used to cauterize the wounds. Dr. Mitchell advises that after these measures have been used, the bandage around the limb should be relaxed for a moment and then tightened again. After a quarter or half an hour this loosening of the bandage for a few seconds may be repeated. In this way the poison - if any remain in the wound - is introduced into the system in small installments, and it will probably produce less serious effects than would result if the entire quantity reached the system at once. Aside from this local treatment, the patient requires stimulation. For this purpose two remedies are especially recommended - alcohol and ammonia In the Western States the great remedy for the bite of the rattlesnake is whisky. This is administered in such quantities as would appall an inhabitant of any other region. It seems to be a fact, however, that the sufferer from rattlesnake poison can swallow without becoming intoxicated a much larger quantity of whisky than he could otherwise bear. Any other alcoholic stimulant, such as rum, brandy or gin, may be used instead of whisky. The liquor may be given until the patient shows signs of intoxication. If there be signs of shock - a pale and cold skin, feeble pulse and semi-unconsciousness - a half teaspoonful of hartshorn should be given in the whisky every half hour. If the patient vomit, and therefore cannot retain the'whisky, it should be given as an injection into the rectum ; for this purpose it is mixed with an equal quantity of milk. After the patient has recovered from the immediate effects of the bites, the wounded limb should be enveloped in cloths saturated with hot water, which are renewed sufficiently often to keep them warm and moist. The patient should be supplied with nourishing food in abundance, and his strength supported with quinine. In India people are troubled with a most venomous and dangerous snake, the cobra. An English physician, Sir Joseph Fayrer, who has had long experience in medical practice in India, gives the following directions for the treatment of persons who have been bitten by this serpent: " Apply at once a ligature, or ligatures, at intervals of a few inches, as tight as you can possibly tie them, and tighten the one nearest to the wound by twisting it with a stick, or other such agent. Scarify the wound and let it bleed freely. Apply either a hot iron or live coal, or explode some gunpowder on the part; or apply either carbolic or some mineral acid or caustic. Let the patient suck the wound while you are getting the cautery ready, or if anyone else will run the risk, let him do it. If the bite be on the toe or finger, especially if the snake has been recognized as a deadly one, either completely excise, or immediately amputate at the next joint. If the bite be on another part where the ligature cannot be applied, or, indeed, if it be on the limbs above the toes or fingers, cut the part out at once completely. " Let the patient be quiet. Do not fatigue him by exertion. When, or even before symptoms of poisoning make their appearance, give eau-de-luce, or ammonia, or carbonate of ammonia, or, even better than these, hot spirits and water. There is no occasion to intoxicate the person, but give it freely and at frequent intervals. " If he becomes low, apply mustard plasters and hot bottles, galvanism or electro-magnetism over the heart and diaphragm. Cold douches may also be useful. " The antidotes in addition may be used by those who have faith in them ; but, as I have said, I fear there is no reason to believe that they are of any use. Encourage and cheer the patient as much as possible. As to local effects, if there be great pain, anodynes may be applied or administered, and antiseptic poultices to remove sloughs ; collections of matter must be opened. " Other symptoms are to be treated on general surgical principles. " This, I believe, is the sum and substance of what we can do in snake bite. If the person be not thoroughly poisoned, we may help him to recover. If he be badly bitten by one of the more deadly snakes, we can do no more. " To sum up, then, we may outline the treatment of bites by poisonous snakes as follows: Tie a bandage or cord very tightly around the limb. Suck the wound thoroughly. Cut out the skin and flesh for a distance of half or three quarters of an inch around the marks of the fangs ; or, instead of this, cauterize the wound thoroughly with a hot iron or with nitric acid or with carbolic acid. Give the patient plenty of whisky and hartshorn. After cauterizing the wound, wash it thoroughly with water or with a solution of carbolic acid in water. After this has been done, the bandage or cord maybe loosened for a few seconds and then reapplied. Repeat this loosening of the bandage every twenty minutes for two houis, at the end of which time it may be permanently removed. Encourage the patient and give him plenty of good food. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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