, 1888-06-22
GOOD THINGS TO KNOW.


SSOO lEIbNoS ~ NiNS"-
How to Treat Promptly the Poisonous Bites
of Snakes, Insects, Dogs or Cats
DR.. Dunning's patient, the New jersey
stonecutter, whose case has been attract
ing so much attention, was discharged
from the hospital the other day entirely
cured. His recovery is remarkable, and
reflects credit on the house surgeon in
charge of the Manhattan hospital. The
young maI was walking near a lake, and
seeing a rattlesnake beside the path he
put his foot upon it and reached down to
seize 1t by the tail, intending to swing its
mead against the rocks. As he did 80
another snake, concealed In the grass,
fastened its fangs in his hand between
the middle and index fingers- The young
man consulted u physician, who recon-
mended the use of aqua ammonia, and
later, when the pain became intense,
chloroform was applied for relief. On
the following day the arm became swol-
len to twice its natural size, very much
in1amed and exceedingly painful
AT this time he presented himself at
the hospital and submitted himself to DR.
Cummings treatment, which consisted in
making an incision in the wound allow
ing it to bleed freely, and removing the
part touched by the snakes fangs. To
quote the doctors words: ~ next pro-
ceeded to get the young man gloriously
drunk, and to keep him so for several
days. AT first 1t required considerable
whisky to produce the required intoxica-
ton, but later a smaller amount was
sufficient. At the time carbonate of
ammonia was constantly used to acceler
ate the action of the heart and counteract
the effect OF the poison. For some time
after the man entered the hospital the
arm continued to swell, the severe pains
extended to the shoulder, head, and
finally to the other arm, being most per
sistent and obstinate in the ears, and cor
tinuing there even after the wounded
arm was free from pain, and a peculiar
difTusive redness extended itself over the
entire body, 30 marked that when a
finger was drawn with slight pressure
over the surface OF the skin q white line
was visible for a little time, and the
wounded arm was very much inflamed.
The patient remained in the hospital ten
days before discharged"
What is the proper treatment for a
snake bite2"
The wound should be opened with a
knife, n ligature bound tight about the
limb wounded between the wound and
the body, and the blood from the cut be
allowed to flow freely. The ligature, If
very tight, should not remain on more
than two Oh three hours, lest the death
Of the member follow from lack OF circu-
lation. The wound should then be eau
terized with a red hot iron or citrate Of
silver, and treated with q carbolic dress
ing containing one part Of carbolic acid
to sixty parts water. II very severe a
charcoal poultice, composed of powdered
charcoal alone, or combined with flax.
seed, should be bound on the wound
This treatment may be applied without
calling a surgeon, if much time must
clapse before the arrival of the surgeon,
and If promptly and thoroughly done is
very e%fticacious in saving life. There are
no wound SO virulent and fatal as those
caused by snake bites, for in their fangs
ls sccreted an extremely poisonous sub
stance, which is deposited in the wound
through little grooves in the fangs. The
fangs are jointed and fold back into the
mouth when the animal is feeding, being
used only as a means Of defense when
attacked.
There are far more deaths from snake
bites than from wounds given by dogs.
Ii q dog Is known TO have hydrophobla,
the person bitten by him should apply
much the same treatment as in the case
Of snake bite, cauterizing the wound and
applying the poultice Of charcoal. Cats
sometimes make ugly wounds, not from
any inherent poison in themselves, but
from substances on their teeth
deposited there by some food they nave
eaten or decayed meat. The virulence of
these wounds usually is destroyed by an
application of aqua ammonia, commonly
called h%urtshorn, and a poultice Of flax
seed. No more eificacious remedy is
known for the sting of insects, spiders,
mosquitoes, etc, than ammonia or n
poultice of common salt. If the sting is
from a hornet, wasp or bee the salt poul,
tice should be moistened with vinegar,
and will relieve the pain almost in
stantly.