Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-11
CURING A SNAKE BITE.
How a BOwery Snowman was Saved from
Horrible Death.

hOErlDle IeaNn-
The death OF James Reilly, the show
man, from the bite of a rattlesnake, says
the New York Tribune, has provoked
much discussion as to the curative value
of whisky. The general impression is
that he did not drink enough, because he
did not become intoxicated, and it is as
serted that unless the person bitten be-
comes intoxicated the alcohol does not
have much effect on the poison. This case
of Edwin NJ. Worth, a Snowman who had
a museum in the BOwery, where as
''the Great Eastern Traveller he
exhibited various rare and curious
objects, is one of peculiar interest.
He had a colony of live rattlesnakes
in glass case, and it was his habit to
feed them at night after the close OF the
exhibition. Although not protesting to
be a snake-charmer, he was accustomed
to enter this case freely and without fear
On the evening OF July Z, 1882, he entered
the case, and, observing the largest of the
big seTpents moving toward him rather
closer than usual, he ''shOO-ed" at it as
one does at hen, and waved mis- hand.
But instead Of being frightened, the rep
tile became angry, and darling at his
! hand fastened its fangs in his thumb and
hung to it, and it was only by knock
that 1t could be made to relax its hold.
Worth was a man about Al years of age.
cool and self-pOssessed, and he immedi-
ately sent out for a bottle of whisky and
began sucking the blood, which flowed
freely from the two punctures, but it did
not occur to him to bind the thumb tight
ly below the wound, so as to prevent the
diffusion of the poisonous venOus blood
through the system. The whisky came
9 af = F
bOttle-abOut a pint-and not becoming
intoxicated at once, sent for another pint
and drank that also. Then all at once be
became blind drunk, and in an in
sensible condition was taken to the
Chambers Street Hospital. Here his
thumb was scaritied, and the
two punctured wounds were washed with
pure carbOlic acid, and a small dose of
atTOpia was poured down his throat. But
he was so Frustrated by the alcohol that
the stomach pump was used and pirt of
whisky was taken out. He was then sent
in the ambulance to Bellevue Hospital,
where, as he was still helplessly intoXi-
Gated, he was placed in the padded cell
used for dipsOmaniacs until the effects of
the liquor subsidized. The punctures in
the thumb were freely incised, and the
hand and arm were envelOped in poul-
tice Of flax seed and powdered charcoal
mixed in equal proportions, and applied
as hot as possible. AS soon as one began
to cool, it was taken off and anoter hot one
applied.
In few hours he became sober, and
gave a connected account of his acct
dent, and of his feelings. He was re-
moved to regular ward, and in the
stronger light his face was seen to be of a
peculiar yellow pallOr, while his eyes
were set deeply in their orbits. He COM
planned of the eXcruciating pains in his
thumb and hand. They were like those
produced by singing nettles, only much
more intense. He suffered from thirst
craving ice all the time, but could not
retain any liquid on his stomach.
The thumb and the nail were now
black, the hand, fingers and fore
arm greatly swollen, presenting
peculiarly notified appearance, green
markings on yellOwish ground. A lit
tie lime water conquered the nausea, and
be was then able to retain moderate doses
of morphine and whisky. The tempera-
ture of his body was over 100 degrees, and
he became deliriOus that night, muttering
constantly. He was exceedingly weak,
his pulse was rapid and feeble, and it
seemed that he was sinking fast. Nor
phine was injected under the skin. and he
was kept alive with whisky and milk
Under this treatment he revived, and not
withstanding the horrible pain he endured,
he slept at intervals. This was the night
of July 8.
During the succeeding days the patient
was kept alive by unremitting attention.
The temperature OF his body rose TO 104
degrees, and his nOstrils began to bleed
and had to be plugged. On July Is he
was given an ounce OF whisky every hour.
and ammOniacal hypodermic injections.
He then began to improve, the heat of his
body was lowered, and he became
stronger. The stronger he grew the
fiercer were the pains in his thumb and
hand. These were relieved by sprinkling
powdered opium on the pOultices which
had been applied continuously since
his admission. The following day Worth
was much stronger. Small doses of
digitalis were given him, and little NOR
phine was added to his whisky. The hy-
pOdermic injections ceased, as the normal
temperature of the body was restored and
all the symptoms promised a speedy re-
cOvery. The pOultices were removed
from the patients hand and arm, and the
thumb was dressed with Peruvian bal
sam. Ii was now found that the thumb
was in a complete state of gangrene. and
it was necessary to amputate it. He be-
came stronger and stronger, and on Sept.
9 was discharged cured.