The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-24
RATTLERS POISON
CONSUMPTION CURE
Philadelphia Physician Describes
Remarkable Scientific Use
of Snake Venom
EXPLAINS JUST HOW IT ACTS
Or. Mays Says Hypodermlc Injection
Of Deadly Drug Can Stop Tubereu-
losis-May Yet Receive the $780,
600 Prize offered by Yale Alumnus.

Observation-Disclosures venom,
scientifically termed "crotalin," Is a
new remedy that is arresting and cur
ing cases Of consumption, and one
which may yet receive the 100000
prize offered by a Yale alumnus for
cure Of the white plague. in the opin-
ion of noted physicians.
In the American Journal Of Clinical
Medicine the results Of preliminary
Investigation Of rattlesnake venom as
a curative agent are given in an arti-
Gle by DR.. Thomas J. Mays, we'll.
known authority on consumption. He
is one of the few men who have had
successful results in treating pulmon.
ary tuberculosis with drugs. He is a
medical director of the Philadelphia
Clinic for the homo treatment of chest
and throat diseases.
In his article, which is entitled "The
Action Of Crotalin," DR.. Mays says:
"It has long been the conviction Of
the writer that the chief and funda-
mental factor in the immediate causa-
tion Of pulmonary tuberculosis lies In
disturbance Of that part Of the nerv-
Gus tract which Is known as the re-
spiratory centre and its outgoing
nerves. and that any agent which pos
sesses the requisite power Of influenc-
ing this nerve area from central d.
rection will, in properly directed
doses, tend to correct this lesion and
alleviate, If not cure, this disease.
"The writer's own experimental
study of this substance led him to be.
lieve that 1t profoundly affects the
cerebro-spinal nervous system, and
especially that part Of the spinal cord
which comprises the respirator centre
and other closely allied functions.
"Crotalin is a dry, yelowish, scaly,
granular residue of the evaporated
salivary secretion Of the American
rattlesnake. The secretion itself, as
it is forced from the poison glands, Is
an opalescent yellow, whitish fluid Of
about the same consistency as human
saliva, having bitter taste and
slightly acid reaction.
"The dried venom, or crotalin, has
a neutral effect and is soluble in wa
ter and glycerine and possesses all
the physiologic properties of the fluid
secretion. 1t is composed of carbon
nitrogen, hydrogen and sulphur.
"The average hypodermic injection
of cotalin is one one-hundredth of
grain, although it is often advisable
to begin with one two-hundredth grain
or even a smaller amount, and it Is
essential to increase the dose to one
fiftieth of grain or even more and
repeat it at more frequent intervals in
cases where many injections have
been made.
L, "The back of the forearm has been
selected as the site Of the hypodermic
administration of the drug. The i'm
mediate effects after the injection Of
crotalin are burning, stinging pain
at the seat of the injection, with gen.
orally stinging and darting sensations
toward the shoulder. This pain is not
severe and is of short duration.
"The cough and expectoration, the
two very harassing features in every
case of phthisis, almost without ex-
ception yield readily to the action OF
this drug, whether administered sub
cutaneously or internally, or both. The
patient shows a decided increase in
strength from the very beginning of
the treatment. This has been so evil
dent and so constant that 1t seems al
most anomalous in the absence Of an
increase in flesh"