The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-30

none terminated fatally. Nor was this favor
able result due to an immediate application of
the antdotes TO toxic abumen-the venom
globuline described in former paper On the
contrary, neither permaugauate OF potasSa,
saturated solutions Of soda and potassa, the
tincturcs of iodine aud pcrchloride of iron, or
bromohydric acid were applied in any instance.
The wound was simply washed, compression
made be .ween il and the heart, and in one case
scarification was resorted to. That is to say,
the physician lacerated the track of the faugs
with dull pocket-knife, and, as he said, -" cut
out the pisen." All these patients were inor-
dinately dosed with apple brandy, which pro-
duced extreme intoxication; aud the theory
was that whenever drunkenness ensued tho
man was safe.
It has been explained that tho venoms of
American serpents paralyze those nervous CEN
tiers through whose action respiration is carried
on; aud that. if snake. bites result fatally, the
end is brought about by
SLOW OR RAPID sUFFoCATIoN.
Now, as alcohol in largo quantity has SINH
lar but less decisive and direct effect, IL is plain
that these cases recovered in spite of this
treatment, and would have done the same if
simulants in excess had not been administered.
In moderation, no doubt, they might have been
beneficial. not by acting on the circulation or
any foreign element contained in the blood, but
produced by apprehension and the influence of
poison.
When a copperhead strikes one of tho ex-
tremities Of the human body, its venom is diff
fused very rapidly. bat not all at once any case.
Ii is nearly impossible that more than very
small proportion should Immediately enter the
circulation, even when one of those minute
vessels of the surface, which are the only ones
within reach in the vast majority of instances,
nd deaths
from ophiOphagus, cobra and rattlesnake bite,
do not depend upon the amount of venom in-
lected, but upon its virulsnce. Ordinarily, this
lies in the wound and is absorbed little by little.
Hence the rationale of sterilizing it by anti
dotes in the first place, and if these cannot be
had, OF preventing absorption and diffusion by
construction, excision, scarihcation, washing,
and suction.
As was said, comprehend poison is not so pow
erful as that of some other serpents but under
circumstances favorable 10 its action it will un-
doubtedly destroy life. The reason why none
of those eases referred 10 terminated disas-
trously was that the snake either
STRUCK ITS FANGs
into interspaces Of relatively non vascular It's
sue or that the deposit of venom was small,
owing TO most OF il having been intercepted by
the clothes, or, finally, because from something
peculiar TO the physical condition Of the reptile
81 Ihat time, III was not possessed OF us usuai
strength. Some of these contingencies. to-
gether with the curative means employed
(apart from overdoses of alcohol), undoubtedly
determined the favorable issue.
Ii remains 10 say that A. contortrix is vivip-
srOus, and that its young exhibit al agrees
i've spirit much contrasted with tho peaceful
disposition OF their parents. The latter never
become offensive unless provoked by encroach-
ment or stimulated by hunger. At the same
time, ii is quite possible for a snake and man
TO look upon what constitutes aggression from
different points of view. Little coppcrhcads,
when only few hours old, may be seen strik-
ing right and left at anything that attracts
their attention. This may possibly be attrb-
uted TO the playfulness of youth, and is prob
ably done 10 test their powers; nevertheless,
such conduct in venomous serpents is not de-
void of unpleasant suggestions; and since rs
many as seven are produced at a birth. their
plscable temper when mature is certainly a
subject for cougratulation TO ali who reside in
their vicinity.