The Lamar register., 1901-07-24
VACCINATION FOR
RATTLESN AXE BITE

Some scientific experiments that are
now being made regarding the possibil-
ity of immuning animals and human
beings from the toxic effects of snake
bites, particularly that of the Amer-
can rattlesnake. are of the greatest in
terest TO those states and sections
where such dangers prevail. Ihis is
true in Colorado in some sections.
The bites of rnttlcsnIkes not only deci-
mate the herds of cattle and horses hut
are n standing menace to life. Some
of the experiments are being made ny
the government and some by private Ill
dividuals a report on some OF the eX-
periments will be made Mt the coming
convention of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science in this
city and the question will be freely. dis
cussed, as the topic is one that admits
of n number OF views. In general 1t Is
however admitted that horses can be
immuncd from the bite and poison or
rattlesnake and thus is deduced the
theory that Il man can likewise. AS yet
no one. has volunteered to be the horri-
ple example. but scientists are patient
and bong enduring.
One great difficulty has stood in the
way uf experiments of immuninS
| horses from the venom of the rattle
snake. When the famous Calmette
made his experiments on venomous
serpents the American rnttlesnake was
mot on his list. Had he used one OF
| these snakes he would have had a Sc
rious check from the start. In inject
ing the venom of n rattlesnake into the
veins of Il horse 1t was found that the
greatest degree of local irritation fol
lowed. which counteracted any good
that the experiment would disclose.
The cxpcrimenters then tried heating
| the venom AT 10 degrees Cnlmetti
found that all of the Irritating effect OF
| the venom of cobra was lost. The
same heating by the American expert
| menterS OF the venom of n rnttlesnake
disclosed the fact that 1t then lost all
its toxic properties. 1t was found nee
essary TO inject the dried venom In Its
normally active condition. The injcc
tions We're given simultaneously anu
were followed by enormous edematn
necroses and sloughs, so that after de
termining that no immunity to th'
local action developed this method wns
abandoned and the intrnvcnOus used
1t has been shown that after TIM
method the interior of the vessels
showed no signs of injury, because tn
well-dilutcd venom met with create
|
local or other irrltative disturbance
followed the ntravenous injection, bu
the nervous impression was profound
the horse often fell and remained uil
conscious for several minutes. Two
the three horses died before antlvenin
. developed from the damage to the tis
sues ms a result of the Irritation pre-
duced by the suDcutaneops Injection
Antiyenine was obtained from tn
third animal. 1t met death, however
from an accidental entrance of til
venom injection into the juSular veil
The antivenine obtained was injecte
into n rabbit. two centimcters. ana
protected the animal against fu
, dose of the rattlesnnke venom. Frol
this Is deduced the theory that peop
can be immuned from snake-bite pc
son. but the practical method OF o
: thinning the nntivenine with u suret
and the absence Of practical eXpel
I ments on n human being leaves u
3 matter in the ranks of theory.