BITE OF A VENOMOUS SNAKE.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVI, Issue 3365, 10 March 1915, Page 4

BITE OF A VENOMOUS SNAKE.

If you should • be so unfortunate as to be bitten by a snake and were not quite certain what sort of a snake it W as whether poisonous or of the socalled harmless vaviefcy-^-look at the injury. If there are four punctures, or even three, the chances arc-that it was not a venomous snake;' but if there aro onlj- two punctures ib is probable you have been bitten by an extremely poisonous snake. While this does not always hold good, as a non-poisonous snako may have had opportunity to make only two incisions with his four biting teeth, it is best to tako no chances at all: The poisonous snake's deadly fangs aro but two—generally in tho upper jaw. But, no matter what sort of a snako bites you, the head of that snake should, wherever possible, be kept for identification.

If, as in generally the case, the bite is on an extremity, tio one or more ligatures—preferably- of broad rubber bands—above tho injury. Incise deeply, cutting across the puncture for at least, one inch and well beyond the depth reached by the fang. Next, wash in running water, manipulating tho part to promote free bleeding. If running water is not available, suck tho Around, then rinse the mouth thoroughly with a solution of potassium permanganate. Now wash 1 the wound well, and use in and around it tho potassium permanganate solution; or inject a 1 to 100 solution of chromic acid, being careful to infiltrate completely riot only the wound, bub ■ also the surrounding tissues.

Do not gi>;e ammonia.' Stimulate with small <loses of whisky, if indicat-. Ed, but do not overdose, as more persons have been killed by taking- large quantities of 'whisky yian by snake-bit o. When positively ' certain that the poison has been removed from the wound, loosen cautiously the ligatures, that nearest tlio heart first, but do not remove them, so they may be again tightened if symptoms recur. In all cases the victim must have the best surgical care, and the wound should be kept open by packing with wet antiseptic gauze, as sepsis and local gan-g-rene are very apt to follow the .injury.