New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-22
ALCOHOL AND SNAKE BITE
Former Should Never Be Administers
to Victim Of Latter.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune reports the case
of boy bitten By a copperhead snaAe'
near Yonkers. given whiskey as al
antidotc by his companions and LUZ,
ried TO the hospital, where his wouLd
was cauterized. and adds that he Is u
a critical condition.
The question arises, Are ms chshe''
Of recovery better or worse Tor tae
whiskey given by his companions WIZ
the best of intentions? =,
In "Researches on Serpent Poison
Professors :. Weir Mitchell and /. i
Reichert say:
"Despite the popular creed It IS no"
pretty sure that many men have Deeh
killed bv the alcohol given TO relieve
them from the effects OF snake DIG
and it is matter OF record that me- l'
dead drunk with whlskey and then Dr.
ten have died of the bite
In the international Encyciop@alS
of Surgery Professor W. "s 1a.',
Chevnc. Of Kings College Hospital
London. says whiskey intoXcatlon "a
vors the injurious effect OF the polsV.
What is wanted is TO keep the pd.VH'
alive till the poison Is eliminated
Dr.. $. Weir Mitchell. IN an arties
on rattlesnakes, explains the popl@
belief in the curative powers OF fleo'
hol by the fact that many bitcs ale
not poisoned. because the poison Sseh
has been cmptied by previous atroAe'
Of the fangs or the poison has oeel
absorbed by the clothing. 1T Is no.
at all probable" he adds, that the &C.
ministration of whiskey has ever u
any case contributed TO the long liis
Of person bitten by a rattlesnaAe:
"Whiskey." he continues, rs oi.A
recommended by physicians with th'
idea that it will sustain the enersl1
of the patient. or Will stimulate tee
heart, etc; but il has been clean!
shown that alcohol in all forms Is 20.
only useless for these purposes, p'
does actual damage, since II iesses
the resistance OF the patient, veakeh'
the heart and helps along the prostTs'
ton which is the characteristic eHe''
of the rattlesnake venom
DR.. Charles II. Shepard. who lnIf~
duced the Turkish bath into Amefi0s
saws: THE rational treatment OF am
NAL poison is 70 endeavor TO pre'e"
the entry Of the virus into the cire.
lation and 10 centrallze II IN ~
wound before IL can be absorbed D.
when il has entered the system even
thing should be done for its ellnlts
ton. The most powerful aid TO y.
human system and the most perie'
elminator known TO man Is heat -.
"Calmette has shown that whs.
ever be the source Of snake venom
active principle is destroyed D. oe's'
submitted TO temperature o. 2lZ az
lrees for a variable length OF time' /,
Now. i'm view of these statements u
men of authority on the subject a.
they could be multiplied, what is
practicable thing that can be done "
camper. out OF reach OF physician,
case Of snake bite? Cd Tie some'"ss
rs tightly AS possible above the ol'V,
as TO prevent the spread OF the po's;,,
(2l Open, wash, express ana '"u'. E,
the spot. using the utmost care no. ~.
cut into any blood vessel. not ON! bs,
cause OF the danger Of bleedins' -,
because il might be channeI io' I'd
transmission of the poison TO INC w.
parts. \ penknife will do for am
coal from the camp fire, "A mH""g ~
bit of hot metal for cAuterI; Y
Give plenty Of hot water 10 dt,"s 30
il can be had and get the patent 90.
sweat by any available means sn.
remembe.' not 10 let him make All! a,
necessary cXertion, because the pr,
weakens the heart As Or. Oh';,
says: 1.-THE problem is to Keep -
patient alive till the poison has "
eliminated" IL
How much of this il is wise
depends upon how near YOU are ~
doctor. but never fail 10 put on AZ
lgature and never give alcohol 10 y
f,r.}. T.. BERTHA hhAnr"n n.
Assistant Superintendent of inc Il
partment of Medical TempeIsnss.s
the Worlds and National "o"'
Christian Temperance Union, -
Brooklyn, n. y, July II, l9lh