The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-09-28
FATALITIES FROM SNAKE BITES
Not So Numerous as Commonly Sup
posed

Nature rewards her yotarles; 1t
has CHANGED that the writer has had
abundant opportunity to observe the
effects of snake bite but always in
others. or four persons and dog
bitten by rattlesnakes four persons
and horse bitten by copperheads,
and two persons and a dog bitten by
water moccasins within my immedi-
ate knowledge not one case has prov
ed fatal. have carefully inquired
into the authenticity OF larger num-
Der of cases, mostly those struck by
the rattlesnake. and have found but
few fatalities among them and no
real evidence that they we're caused
! by the snake venom.
When the books record deaths after
snake bite they assume this to have
been the cause. but proof is wanting.
Ordinary blood poisoning may easily
result from careless treatment OF the
fang wounds, and Il seems apparent
that the greater number Of fatalities
are OF those surgically treated. The
most easily observed difference be-
tween the action OF snake venom and
ordinary blood poison is the matter
OF time yet prolonged Illness from
snake bite has occurred, sometimes
OF dropsical character: death even,
has followed after IS hours. Death
from septicemia may occur in two
days: n Is more to be dreaded than
snake bite: Nature unaided can easily
take care OF the latter; the former
has probably killed many snake
bitten man.
7 knew n girl OF IA In the Pennsyl-
vania mountains who was struck by a
copperhead snake twice on the bare
instep: she was driving the cows
from pasture. Having a CAD handy,
she calmly killed the snake; then
returned to the house, not one mite
alarmed. and made no mention OF
the incident at that time. When the
poison began its slightly benumbine
action. she went to bed supperless
and not a thing was done for her. She
was up late the next morning and felt
out of sorts most OF the day. The
third morning she was rs well as
ever. A little later | observed the
fang marks and heard the girls &C
count OF the incident. In this case
az least as with the baby. blood pol
sonlng did not play a part.
Having no means for medical treat
ment nj hand. the best course to pur
sue n bitten by venomous snake Is
First. keep calm. and don't Imagine
that you are going to die. for YOU arr
not. Second. act quickly and sane
": much depends upon what Is don,
the first few minutes before the pol
son has a chance to disseminate
Third. make q llgature above tn
wound with n we'll knotted handker
chief. bit OF clothing. or stou
twlne. and tighten with stick thrus
through the loop and twisted until th
cloth sinks deeply into the Skin
Fourth. sterllIze knife blade by pas
ing 4 slowly through n match flame
! then cut into each fang puncture n
wide rs the knife blade and abou
one fourth OF an inch In soft flesh;
against bone. the wound VIII y
shallow. Fifth. squeeze the poison
: ont with the flowing blood for mir
utc or more by pinchlnr the Hes
: deeply and all around the wonnu'
sixth stop the flow OF blood with
bit OF clean paper. clean hands an
nlentlfui saliva. 30 rs to cause hea
| Inv scab and thereby very necessal
iv prevent blood poisoning Whlc
. would provo In an already unhealth
| nnri far more serious than half doi
an snake hltes. Seventh. remove IN
r iigature To prevent gnnrrene ana r.
4 main Ms quiet M possible or NOV
Islow'v To convenient place OF res
Eivhth n depression Of the heart nc
lion Is observed take n finger 2
whisky. not more. and repeat IN
dose frequently to accelerate nee'
} action. -.
= n may be we'll for anyone espec
aiiy tlmld person. 20 carry with IN
I 40 any snake infested camp pock'
hvnodermic case. containing n goo
ciean needle and vial Of potassium
, nermanranate crystals. While IN
!, wound Is bleeding from the knife en-
d,ssnive the crystals In n little waite
, producing a deem nurnle color VI ~
hvnodermic and inject the nuld INT
and close around both fang punctur,
: Then stop the blood. PermanEanal
= solution when fresh Is a powerful o
,dislnr agent and DESTROYS the tox
character Of the venom whenev'
coming In contact with it RuhhiI
|. lot Of the finely ground crystals !
A Inc omen wounds before stopnif
~. aow OF blood may be resorted