The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-12
RATTLESNAKE VENOM
EPILEPSY CURE.

A rattlesnake venom. known scien-
tifically as crotails, has been found
a most effective palliative in the treat
ment of epilepsy, according to an ar
ticle by DIR. Ralph H. Spangler in The
New York Medical Journal issued
last week. DR.. Spangler is the chief
of the medical clinic, and assistant
physician to the Methodist Episcopal
hospital In Philadelphia.
The observations related by DR..
Spangler were based on ffty-one cases
of epilepsy treated with rattlesnake
venom during the last year, after ex-
~tensive experiments during 1910. AL
though not a cure Of the disease, DR..
Spangler said he found crotalin capa-
BILE of modifying the severity of the
attacks. progressively frightening the
intervals between the seizures, and
producing a most desirable effect on
the apprehensive mental state so
characteristic of the unfortunate suf-
ferer from epilepsy. The treatment
consists of hypodermic injections, reg
ulated according to the patients sub
ceptibility to the venom.
THE form Of epilepsy most infiu-
enced by the venom is the so-called
idiopathic or genuine epilepsy, for
which there is no ascertainable cause
said DIR. Spangler. "The patient may
be subject TO either the major, grand
NAL attacks, or the minor petit NAL
form may be the only evidence Of the
disease. In a number of my cases the
grand NAL type was replaced by the
petit NAL seizures before the intervals
between the attacks were much
heightened.
1.-THE effect of the venom on the mind
was very gratifying in most of the
cases. The apprehension and fear Of
an impending attack, so common in
cases of chronic epilepsy, is changed
to cheerfulness, and the patient re-
gains confidence in his own condition.
The general health in all cases has
improved n~oticeably. From careful
clinical observation / am lead to be-
iieve that the emo itself has a de-
cided influence in r~evitalizing the
functions Of various organs"
DIR. Spangler has found, however,
that the organic e~pilepsies, including
the forms arising from traumatic le-
sions Of the skull or brain, such as
IuIQOTBy anu dlCtAtOAAC SPAACpSJ AAh hON
be expected to yield to the venom
treatment.
His personel observations were con-
firmed, DR.. Spangler said, by a large
correspondence with colleagues who
used the venom with beneficial results.
His own clinical observations were
tabulated by DIR. Spangler, showing q
great variety of cases. Among the
thirty-six patients there were twenty
one males and fifteen females. ranging
in age from 5 to 81 years, who had
been subject to epileptic seizures for
periods varying from six months to
twenty-five years before the venom
treatment was, started.
The solution used by DR.. Spangler
consisted of the dried crystalline scales
from the venom Of Crotalus horridus,
dissolved in sterile water, to which
were added a few drops of trikresoi
for preservation and ~antiseptic effect.
The treatment started with One two
hundredths Of a grain and was grad.
ually increased to the necessary
strength, injections being administered
at intervals at from I'VE to seven days.
Az to the duration of the treatment
DR.. Spangler said that no positive
statement could be made. He has had
six patients under treatment for more
than two years. and in several Of the
most satisfactory cases the interval
between injections has been lengthen-
ed to ten days or two weeks, and one
patient has only had injections once
a month for the last year. Under these
conditions Or. spangler expressed him
self as against the entire disuse of
venom, even though attacks had not
occurred for months.
sMaeterlipck says that itswilI be easy
to die in the future. Evidently he has