, 1885-12-22
4 ouaE soR saAkE-polsonina.


Anocuthttoh as frhcNiceu ny buhhheh-
"Nothing New but the Forg otten."
Iohicago Times.l
let a new discovery in science, art or
mechanics be announced, and some
comes forward to show that it is very
old and has long Teen used in some part
OF the world. The like is true in rela-
ton to alleged new discoveries in RENE
dial agents. The report of Pasteur's
discovery in regard to the prevention OF
~hydrophobia by inoculating the sufferer
with virus obtained from an animal
that had died in consequence of having
been bitten by a rabid dog had been
published but a few days before Mr..
Farini, a distinguished Oriental traveller,
stated in an English journal that the
natives of many parts of Asia and AZ
RIGA used dried snake poison as an anti
dote for the bite OF a serpent. He states
that there a dozen varieties of snakes in
Asia and Africa which have the power
to in ect deadly poison into the animal
system by means OF thoir fangs.
The subtle poison is certain to pro-
duce death in a man or beast in a very
short time unless al antidote be imme-
diately administered. All beasts of
burden ms well as human beings are in
constant danger Of being bitten by these
poisonous snakes. AS the natives gem
orally go naked, they have no protec-
ton against them. Still they exhibit
no fear of them. Every man going out
in the forest or jungle or upon the des-
ert carries in a pouch hung to his side
either the dried body OF a poisonous
reptile. called N'anboo, or poisonous
sticks of the puff adder, yellow cobra,
or capello. AS soon as they are bitten
they make some slight missions in the
flesh close to tho place where the poison
Gus fangs entered, into which they
sprinkle some of the dried and pulver-
lied virus. The swelling, which com
mences Immediately, very soon subsidies
and the person becomes sleepy. After
a few hours rest and sleep he is able TO
walk, and in a day or two is as well as
ever.
Mr.. Farini states that while exploring
the Falahari three of his oxen were
bitten by poisonous snakes. He sup
posed that he would lose them all, but
a Bushman, who was their driver, in
formed him that there was no possible
danger. He proceeded to ~inoculate
them, and after n short rest they were
able to continue their journey. This
Bushman was constantly stating that he
had no fear of the bite of any snake.
one day as the traveller was walking in
advance of the wagon train he discoy-
cred q full grown capello lying under a
bush. He called his driver and asked
him to catch it If he was not afraid of
being bitten. He replied that he would
catch it and allow it to bite any part of
his body for a plug of tobacco. Mr..
Farini refused to promise it to him as he
did not wish to be an accessory to his
death.
While he went to get a whip with
which to kill the horrible creature, the
Bushman coolly went up and kicked it
with his bare foot, into which the poi
sonous fangs were thrust. He then sat
down, drew from his skin pouch some
poisonous sacks, cut a little piece from
one, reduced it to powder in his hand.
pricked his wounded foot near where
the swelling had begun to appear, and
rubbed in some of the powder. While
he was doing this another Bushman
killed the snake, extracted the poison
cysts, squeezed a drop out, mixed 1t
with water, and handed it to his com
panion to drink. The bitten man fell
into a sort of torpor hat lasted several
hours. At first the swelling in
creased, but in a short time
it began to abate. The next
morning the incubation was repeated,
and before night the swelling had al
most entirely disappeared. on the third
day the man pronounced himself as en-
tirely we'll, and demanded his roll of
tobacco. Mr.. Farini brought home to
Europe the poison of several snakes and
a portion of a N'anboo, all Of which he
has sent NJ. Pasteur to use in expert
ments in cases of snake-poisoning.
Probably the expression The hair of
a dog will cure the bite" is older than
''Similia similibus curantur.' Quite
likely homeopathy was practiced by ig-
norant savages in the wilds of Asia and
Africa centuries before Hahnemann was
born. Solomon informs us hat there
is nothing new under the sun, " and a
French prorerb declares that there is
nothing new but the forgotten" No
one should be astonished that the dis
covery OF some empiric Bushman in re-
gard to incubation antedates that made
by the great French sayant.