The bite may be almost immediately fatal from paralysis of respiration and of the heart when on over-flowing doe of very toxic venom is injected as may happen in cobra bite. If by any chance the venom is injected directly into a vein it leads to general clotting of the blood, vomiting, collapse, and death.
The Viper is the only poisonous snake in the British Isles, and its venom does not often produce death in human except when the victim is a child or very weak person.
Deadly snakes are generally distinguishable by the thinness of the neck, immediately behind the head, and by their graceful forms and brilliant colours; also by their having only two teeth in the upper jaw.
TREATMENT.- The prompt and through treatment of poisoned wounds is highly important, especially if they result from the bites of venomous reptiles.
(1) The first object to be attempted is arrest of the circulation of the poison. A handkerchief, rope, elastic ligature, or anything else to serve the purpose should be tied tightly round the limb, between the wound and the heart. While this is being done, if possible a second person should extract the poison as suggested in the next paragraph.
(2) The wound should be sucked with all the force the patient can command; or, if unable to do it himself, an attendant should do it for him. No danger attaches to the person thus sucking the wound so long as the poison does not come in contact with any abraded or otherwise imperfect surface of the mouth or other part of the body. Bleeding from the wound should be encouraged.
The whole of the bite should at once be excised and crystals of Permanganate of Potash rubbed into the wound until it is black, or Peroxide of hydrogen applied, Afterwards rub fine salt into the wound.
(3) Alcohol, in any of its forms– brandy, whisky, gin, etc. — according to Dr. Hill’s testimony should be drunk largely by the patient. He says: ” Let him drink it freely, a gill or more at a time, once in fifteen to twenty minutes (or small doses oftener), until some symptoms of intoxication are experienced.. the poison of a Rattlesnake will bear. A little girl of ten years, who had been bitten by a Rattlesnake, took over three quarts of good strong whisky in less than a day, when but slight symptoms of intoxication were produces. She recovered from these symptoms in a few hours, and suffered no more from the poison of the serpent. Instances of cures with whisky are numerous, and I have never heard of a failure when it was used as here directed. I presume it will do the same for the poison of other serpents;” Alcohol so prescribed is given as a material antidote to a material poison.
(4) Carbolic Acid, applied locally, and administered internally, is recommended in cased of poisoned wounds.
(5) Arsenicum, in a low potency (1st or 2nd dec), may be given if symptoms of rapid prostration occur., Thus administered, it tends to correct the poisoned conditions of the blood, and acts strictly homoeopathically.
Professor Halford, of Melbourne, speaks of the injection of Ammonia into the veins in cases of snake poisoning in the most eulogistic terms, and brings forward strong evidential warrant for his statement.
Excision of the wounded part may be required in some cases; but would probably be rendered unnecessary by the Carbolic Acid treatment just pointed out.
OTHER POISONED WOUNDS should be treated, according to their nature, by appropriate antidotes. In the case of wounds from the introduction of mineral substances under the skin, those top which workmen –mechanics, founders, and others– are liable, the offending material has generally lodged in the body and produced disturbance in the part before its presence is suspected. Inflammation is the result, and suppuration should be encouraged, as this is generally the only means of eliminating the poison. The treatment recommended for Abscess is appropriate to this condition, with in some cases, the aid of Arsenicum
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."