The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-02

THO Australian Method or Curing
Snake.ESitcs.
1n the. Editors OF the UiSpdtch :

To the EdNorS OF the DtSpdtch: n
Knowing the widespread circulation OF
your deservedly popular paper, and with
the desire to benefit humanity, have sc.
1ected 1t as medium Of reporting case OF
poisoning from the bite OF a rattlesnake
successfully treated by DR.. j. j. Knott, OF
this city, under my observation.
The victim was an old gentleman, whose
name is Burney, 81 accentric and rather in
temperate habits, and who believed he pos
sessed the charm y Of tanning snakes and
making them yield submissively to the
powers OF his will. n week or two before
the accident he captured near the Chatta-
hoochee river, in this county, %what he
esteemed valuable prize, in the object OF
huge Crotalms darissuS, measuring several
feet in length and having ten or twelve rat
ties, which he brought to this city, rs he
said, .tto show the boys" what nc could
make It do, and then turn 1T over to DR..
James, commissioner in charge OF the
agricultural and geological departments
OF the State. While exhibiting for
the amusement of "thc boys" his art OF
taming,a few evenings after the capture,
this pet became refractory, and refused to
obey the most percmptory commands OF bis
master; in fact, became greatly enraged at
his opportunities; and while in this mood
struck his fangs deep into his left hand Just
above the large joint OF the thumb. Being
in bar-room he was handed glass Of
brandy, and started for drugstore in
search OF n physician, and met with Or.
Knott in half an hour, when nearly blind
and in a semi-comatose condition from the
rapid absorption Of the poison. DIR. Knott
promptly resorted 10 what is known rs the
Australian method Of treatment, and with
the most satisfactory results, rs the sequel
will show.
This method OF treatment consists in in
jecting solution of carbonate OF ammonia
twenty grains to one ounce OF water) into
the veins with hypodermic syringe. From
q drachm to two drachms OF this solution
are injected every ten or fifteen minutes,
and repeated at intervals until the threaten
ing symptoms begin to subside.
DR.. r. 4. Alley and the writer were in
vited by DR.. Knott to visit this case with him
sixteen hours after the accident, and found
him in an unoccupicd room, where he had
lain during the night without bed or atten-
ton, and to all appearances in moribund
condition-breathing stentoriously, blind,
and semi-comatose. saw that the Doctor
and the patient were both laboring under
the disadvantageous surroundings OF pow
erty, which might foil the most scientific
efforts of the former but with the motto,
"PerSeuerantia Uincit omniG," he contin-
ued his treatment, and when l visited the
patient some three hours afterwards found
him conscious, with his usual sight, and
promptly calling for such things as he want
ed and when asked how he felt, in strong
voice he exclaimed, "Bully, sir; bully"
The above treatment, with the addition OF
quinine, an occasional toddy, and nourish'
ment, was continued for forty-eight hours,
when the case was dismissed. 1t is well to
saw that ammonia seems to act by overcom-
ing the paralysis OF the hearts action which
the poison produces; for as soon as its in
fluence - withdrawn the threatening symp-
toms recur. There was no untoWard symp.
tom from the injections. except slight phlc.
bits, which yielded readily to cold applica-
tions.
I have availed myself Of your columns
that this boon to suffering humanity may
reach that class OF the worlds population
which never reads medical journal.
G. G. Roy, NJ. D.,
late Of Virginia.
atlanta, Ga. July 26, 1876.