East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-08-17

FROM the Lewiston tribune is taken
the following article which should be
filed for reference in every neigh
neighborhood where venomous snakes
are ever found. There is no higher
authority on the treatment OF snake
bites than w. T. Hornaday:
Should a person alone in a wilder
ness be struck by the dreaded rattle
snake, such person should not fear
for lack of a speedy cure, should the
precaution have first been exercised
In providing a drug store, a dairy
surgery and distillery. This is the
remarkable discovery OF the New
York Geological society, which soci-
ety's researches In that line have been
endorsed by no less an important
authority than the curator of the
Smithsonian institute. The scientific
Hopkins of Sites, Idaho, in a letter
from w. T. Hornaday, director OF the
Geological society, who wrote under
the date of July 8. A dispute had
arisen at Sites among a number of
citizens as to the best remedy and
treatment to apply in the emergency
conditions that would prevail IL a
person was bitten by snake while in
the mountains and while thus isolat-
ed from professional treatment. 1t
was decided to write to the Smithson-
ian institute, and the latter replied,
stating the matter had been referred
to the noted Geological society at
New York: Later came the letter
from Director Hornaday The letter
has now come into prominence from
the fact that a few days ago, upon
reaching Sites, after he had been
bitten by a rattler while on a hunt
ing trip, Deputy State Game Warden
Harbaugh was approached by Mr..
Lisle and told of the Hornaday letter
and was offered the benefit of the ad-
vice given. Mr.. Harbaugh said he
was too sick to read it. Upon reach
ing Lewiston Mr.. Harbaugh was again
told of the letter by Rev. Somerville.
of the Episcopal church, who had
read 1t while on a visit to Sites. 1t
was then decided to send for the let
ter, and 1t reached here yesterday.
Mr.. Harbaugh has recovered from
the snake bite, and after reading the
advice of the Geological society, last
night made the comment that 1t lack
ed only the further suggestion that
the man taking the treatment should
not neglect to leave a note to the
coroner SO that his remains might be
idehtified. Here is the letter recelv-
ed by Mr.. Lisle. outlining an emerg-
ency treatment for snake bite:
"New York Geological Park, Un-
der the Management of the New York
Geological Society, 1880 Street and
Southern Boulevard; William T. Hor-
naday. Director.
New York, July 9, 1907. Mr..
Lisle Hopkins, Sites, Idaho. Dear
SIR
"In my American Natural History,
on pages $50, and S. there appears
all that have ever had to say on the
subject of snake bites and their treat
ment.
"Peter Gruber of Rochester, has
been bitten about 20 times by rattle
snakes. His plan is to suck the ve-
nom from the wound, then take a
knife and cut slit an inch and a
half long, straight through the wound
so that 1t extends on both sides He
makes the cut bleed freely. After the
cut has bled freely, he nijects per-
manganate of potas above and
around the wound. He says that the
proper proportion is one five-grair
tablet of permanganate dissolved ir
two ounces of water, and he injects
the capacity Of hypodermis syringe
about three times around above each
, wound. Ee also bathes the wount
freely with this solution and cover!
it with absorbent cotton, to keep 1
from the air. During this time HI