The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-02-25
Cured to Death.

A writer on the poisonous snakes of
India says Natives, walking noiselessly
with bare feet, are, of course, much
more liable to accidents, yet statistics
give the total number of persons killed
by venomous snakes during the year
1878 at 1852, or less than one in 10000
of the population. And il is not unlikely
that we should be nearer the truth if we
cut down that number by half; not only
because snake-bite has been since the
days of Hamlet's father, most conven-
lent explanation of doubtful deaths, but
because in hundreds of cases where the
bite of the snake would not have suficed
to kill the man, native methods of cure
complete the work and put an end to his
life.
A correspondent, in calling attention
to the danger, gives an example very
much TO the point that came under his
own notice. A strong young Mussul-
man, an energetic and vigorous man,
was turning over some rubbish when a
speckled snake, about two feet long, bit
him above the ankle. No one else saw
the creature. He himself did not stop
to look at it, but rushed headlong home,
implored his friends to look after his
children, and rolled over on the floor.
In few moments the whole neighbor-
hood had gathered together, determined
not to let him perish without an attempt
at rescue. A dozen chickens were at
once procured, and the remedy was put
into vigorous operation. 1t is, by the
way, one of the commonest native spe-
cifics. Then some jungle men passing
by were called in. They were practical
men, and at once sucked the wound.
They sucked and chewed the man in
Eo1 n lNt1f
this might have been designed to act on
his faith and cheer him up, and by this
time he needed cheering. Next some
local savants suggested that the poison
should be got out of the mans stomach,
and a good handful of salt was given
him, with an immediate result. After
this decoction of 1seenl leaves was ad-
ministered, both internally and eXter-
nally, plenty of it being rubbed on the
crown of his head. Some other decoc-
ton was smeared under the roof of his
tongue. Two men well versed in charms
then came on the scene, and cutting
some twigs from tree of very great
POTENCY in such cases, belabored the man
for an hour or two over the head and
face, muttering charms the while.
All this was only the beginning of
sorrows. For four or five hours the
wretched man was piled with drugs and
decoctious and charms, every new conner
putting some fresh abomiration down
his throat. At the end of that time he
was quite sensible, and not a symptom
of snake poison had shown itself. There
was no pain in the bitten part, nor any
swelling, as far as could be ascertained,
considering how the place had been
plastered and blistered and bandaged.
! Two or three hours later however sOme
fresh dose, prescribed by new arrival,
gave the coup de grace. The man sue
cumbed, became insensible, and soon
died. There was government dispen-
sary in the neighborhood, with an
apothecary in charge, but no one ever
dreamt of consulting him until it was
too late. In this case there was not q
particle of evidence TO show that tine
snake was poisonous, and in all prob
ability the man was simply cured tC
| death.