The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-23
COLORADO RATTLEsYAKE.

succeed the injury so quickly, and in the case
OF human beings this rapid termination is,
perhaps, quite exceptional, since something is
nearly always done 20 prevent the consequences
OF incubation. But If the treatment resorted
10 be ultimately Intellectual, although n fatal
termination within half an hour is avoided,
different pathological symptoms appear. The
parts around the wound swell and darken from
extravasated blood, which, on account of
morbid huidity produced by toxic albumen,
escapes through the coats of its vessels. As the
diseased conditions develop, passive hemor-
rhage becomes widespread. Bleeding of the
brain heart, lungs, intestines follows; all tho
tissues may be saturated. and the injured part
soaked to the bone with blood" At the same
time the poison is also acting Through their
nerve ganRlions1 upon the respiratory organs
in the manner before described, only in this
case more slowly, and death subsequently,
occurs from protracted instead Of rapid suffoca-
ton.
From the above statements il must be evil
dent that the whisky treatment" of rattle
snake bite is a false one. IL is based upon the
error that death. in this case, commences st the
heart. aud hence the need for stimulAnts 10 sus-
tain its action until organic function elimin-
ates the venom. Really, however. death begins
in the lungs. respiratory system generally,
which alcohol then affects but indirectly. com
mon objection 10 this assertion would, OF course,
DC Lilab EuEWE5Jeu through experience, VIZ
that persons under such circumstances drink
and do not die. II does not follow, however,
] that they would always die IL they did not
! drink, nor does drinking invariably save life.
comparatively small quantity Of venom
/ ever enters a wound. Ii is secreted in varying
amounts discharged in different measures, ac-
cOrding 10 age season, state Of health and
/ the previous activity Of the poison apparatus.
! Moreover, much Of il is usually prevented from
acting by being wiped away on skin projections
Of all kinds and, finally, that portion which
! is injected cannot be completely absorbed, and
/ must also be unequally taken up by almost
I every part Of the surface. These eonsdera-
tiong are overlooked by the advocates Of alco-
/ hol. Given a case of pr0stTation from any
cause, and whisky will temporarily sustain the
powers while reparative action is taking place
but IL is not an autidotc, effects no chemical
( change in the poison itself, and is only capable
1 Of the accessory action indicated. In AN acct
dent Of this kind the important points are. il
possible, 10 prevent the spread Of the virus by
compression; TO cleanse the wound aud pro-
mote the flow Of infected blood by suction OF
scarifcatiOD. All this is more or less ancil
liary 10 the use Of antdotal remedies The
actual cautery may destroy IL; but this is hor
riby painful must be used at once, and is nn
certain in its effects Those agents, however
whose chemical qualities can be relied upon t.
sterilize venom, when properly applied, are
/ ursls FeEWIabRahabe OF pOLdssay anOt III sue
ccssiycly less degree. concentrated solutions o
potassa aud soda, the tnctures Of iodine, anC
perchloTide Of iron, together with bromohydri,
acid.
Let us suppose that a man be bitten by
snake when out Of reach Of medical aid 70
the time at least. His first move after tho at
tack Of the reptile would be 10 immediatcl,
bind a ligature Of any sort around the bitter
/ limb between the wound and the heart. Thi
would tend 10 prevent the venom spreading
Then all the poison that can be washed iron
the surface or otherwise removed should be at
tended 10 at once. Finally, If neither the RENE
, dies prescribed above or q forcepump are avail
able, suction with the lips should be resorte
to- aud can be with impunity if the surface q
the mouth h free from sores Of any kind.
/ would be we'll too to enlarge the wound wit
pocket-kniie and allow a moderate quantit,
, Of blood 20 escape.
As all this will not prevent fear aud the poi
, s0nOus effects Of the bite from producing NOR
or less prostration of the system. IL there b
= any whisky 10 be had tho patient would d
: well 10 take a quantity, but not 10 swaIlo,
: enough 10 produce the evil results that aleohc
in excess always engenders. When the ant
dOtes which have been spoken Of are at hanC
u Injection Is the better way OF applying them
J. but as instruments for this purpose may not b
: readily obtainable, the remedy must be use
II as a lotion, and its application continued for
/
Ii rattlesnake bites do not result fatally is tina
g these precautions some of them are almOl
:. uniformly resOrted 10 at once; aud also tia
Il the toxic properties Of the venom itself vary I
; constantly with all those conditions of life an
s circumstances which have been already dea
i with.
It There is want OF agreement among zool'
n gists concerning the classification of Crotalida
e and one Of the most common and drcade
1t species Of the United States, Crotalophort
10 miliaris or the ground rattlesnake il sal
y by some naturaists not 10 be true or,
IT talus. This serpent abounds In all I'll
y sparesly settled tracts of North and Sout
y Carolina, Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi an
le Louisiana. IL is about Is inches long, an
"a although the neck is much contracted, its bod
j. is very thick in proportion to its length. III
y head is large, triangular and broad behind, an
the nose ia cut off square, It's eyes are all
h large, with black pupils. but their most strlkr
Ct popularity is that the brilliant iris is brigl
r yellow on it's upper half and completely blac
70 below.
n The mouths Of all snakes Of this kind are