Maryland free press., 1866-07-05
certain CusS for SNAKE Bites.

| Mr.. Edward Fontaine, writing TO o Florida pa
I per, gives the following antido,e for the bit" u
/ snakes, spiders and other renofaous reptiles and
insects which ia most assuredly worth reniember-
ing. Mr. Fontaine says: ~ ........... $50,
| am not the discoverer of the remedy, bu
have used 1t repeatedly and with perfect success:
for the last ten years, in curing snake and spider
bites, and the stings of wasps, bees and other in
sects. usually carry it with me on all fishing
and hunting excursions, and keepa vial of ii al
ways in my house. where my family can use II
| Immediately when necessary. The children
sometimes apply it themselves when stung by
wasps, bees and yellow jackets in fruit seas
on.
| The Smithsonian Institute, after many months
experiments, and at several thousand dollars ex-
pcrse, discovered the remedy iu 1855. The cx-
periments were conducted by Professor Brainerd,
aided by the ablest chemists in our country. The
United States Government, through officers ofthe
army and navy, furnished the Institute with ev-
cry species of poisonous snakes which infested our
Southern ,swamps and Western wids. bc-
lieve theyalso experimental upon the cobras and
other reptiles from .lndia Africa snd South ~
merica. They killed about five hundred dogs,
cats, chickens, and Notler domestic birds and
beasts, for the benefit of humanity. The sacri-
flee Of inferior animal life was great, but they
have discovered remedy at last which has s,,-
we'd the life of many of our race, and which
ought to be generally know. 1t is unnecessary
to say it is no quack remedy, but is endorsed by
the Smithsonian Institute, under the direction Of
seen heroes of science us Maury, Henry Brainerd
and others. The Institute belongs, as you are
aware to the government of the United States.
Here is the Smithsonian Antidote for snake and
insect poison 10 grains iodine ounce ofwatcr,
the solvent
To be kept in vial with ground glass stop
or, and applied externally TO the wound 1t is
not to bc taken as medicine internally In using
it no time is TO he lost, MS death often ensues
from snake bite in fifteen minutes. Bites
usually are inflicted on the haads or feet and
when this is the case, the first thing 10 be done
is to stop the circulation of it with the blood by
applying ligaturc to the leg orarm above the
wound. pocket handkerchief the slspendcrs,
piece OF rope, or strip of bark, in an emergen-
cy, can be uscd and gun, umbrella, walking
stick, limb OF tree, an axe, or hoe helve, can be
made to answer as Il tournquet to tighten the
bandagc.
Then saturate piece ofcotton batting, sponge
lock of wool. or anything that will hold tn
fluid with the antidotc and sponge The bite with
it, and bind it TO it. keeping it wet with it until
cure is effected which will he done in an hour,
and sometimes instantly. fpracticablc, o cup
ping glass ought TO be applied, and the antdotc
should te placed upon the blister: hut as bites
usually are inflicted upon the fingers or toes, or
among the tendons and bones of the wrists. ank-
les, or protuberances of the feet and hands, the
process of cupping is frequently impossible.
will only add that the antidotc is so complete
that five drops of undiluted poison from the fangs
of rattlcsnake, mixed with five drops of the an
tidote, and inserted in wound with q syringe,
was ascertained by actual experiment TO be a.
harmless rs ten drops of water.