Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-24
Physicians Say RattIer's Vic
tim Holds Out and Will Live.
HEAD is NOT so SWOLLEN
Serum Not Used as Inefficacious So
Late After Accident.
BOYS IN CANOE ALL NIGHT
Expected That Strychnine Treatment
Will Defeat the Poison-Thomp-
son Still Conscious.

Still suffering considerable pain, and
| the crisis not yet passed. William Thomp-
! son, eighteen years of age, of 1904 G
street southwest, bitten on top of the
head by rattlesnake late Saturday night
and removed to the Georgetown Iniver-
-sity Hospital yesterday morning, is re-
ported in an encouraging condition.
Young Thompson, with friend, Eugene
r. Wood of 71I III street northwest, n
clerk at the Southern railway left George
town Saturday afternoon in the latters
canoe. planning to camp over Sunday on
the Virginia shore near Chain Bridge.
They reached the chosen spot late Satur
day afternoon and there erected a shelter
tent. They retired late at night.
Bitten as He Slept
Thompson fell asleep a few minutes
after rolling himself up in his blankets.
Wood remained awake About an hour
after the two boys had retired Wood
heard a rafting sound. Believing some
animal was moving about among the
cooking utensils in one end of the tent
he arose to investigate.
Thompson suddenly awakened. Hold
ing his hand to his head. he inquired if
Wood had pulled his hair. Wood sug
gested that possibly snake had bit him.
that he saw the snake. Wood also ran
a short distance away. Thompson short
~ afterward became suddenly Ill and al
most sank to the ground.
Neither attempted to return to the tent.
They got into their canoe. For over an
hour Wood padded the craft about the
stream. Thompson gradually grew worse
To get a blanket from the tent for the
sick boy Wood went ashore. He wrapped
his companion i'm it and then padded out
into the stream again.
For several hours Wood padded about
in the canoe. About daybreak he noticed
that Thompson's head was beginning to
swell. Later it became twice it's normal
size. He realized that medical attention
was needed and at once started for Aque-
duct bridge.
Taken to Hospital.
When Georgetown was reached Thomp
son was unable to get out of the canoe.
With the aid of a boatman Wood carried
him ashore. He was taken to George
town Hospital about $50 o'clock.
DIR. William C. Gwynn of the hospital
staff Immediately started the strychnine
treatment. Hot applications were put to
Thompson'S head to reduce the swell
ing. Thompson did not lose conscious
ness.
The doses of strychnine were admin
istered every two hours all day yesterday
and the applications were also made
throughout tNe udy. Inc swelling OIL INC
head has decreased.
The physicians at the hospital say that
because of the long period from the time
the boy was bitten until he was received
at the hospital, the serum treatment could
not be administered. as it seldom proves
effective unless used when the victim is
bitten. They, however are of the opinion
that the strychnine treatment will prove
effective.
Rose Not TO Leave Hospital
The physicians at the Emergency Hos.
pital. where Rodney. Rose. the keeper
at the Zoo. who was bitten by a diamond
rattlesnake some time ago, has been
undergoing treatment, today state that
Roses condition is considerably i'm
proved but that it will be some time
before he will be allowed to leave the
institution. 1t Is the purpose Of the
physicians to keep Rose at the hospital
until the swelling of hand and arm has
entirely disappeared.
Mrs Rose. the patients wife. visited
the hospital yesterday and spent good
part of the afternoon with her husband.
He was able to sit I'D in his bed to re-