Bites of Snakes
It is well to known which snakes are poisonous. All poisonous snakes have in the upper jaw two long, large teeth; all those which have in the upper and lower jaw each two rows of teeth, are not poisonous. The bite of a venomous snake is generally attended with violent shooting and sometimes burning pain.
When the serpent is not venomous, rub some salt or gunpowder into the wound, as such wounds have often become troublesome. But if it is venomous, tie a ribbon, cloth, strap, rope, or the like, tightly around the limb, two or three inches above the wound, to prevent the blood returning from the wound to the heart, and leave it as long as the patient can bear it, or until the danger is past. Every endeavor should be made to extract the poison; for this end, the best means is the application of cupping-glasses frequently renewed till nothing more exudes from the wound. A cupping-glass may easily be extemporized in the following way: take a small glass tumbler, dip a piece of paper or cotton into brandy, whiskey, or other spirits, spirits of wine, eau de cologne, any toilet perfume will answer the purpose; set fire to this, throw it into the tumbler, and immediately apply the mouth of the tumbler over the wound, taking care to press it close upon the skin so as to allow no air to enter. If the materials are not at hand, or the wound is so situated as to prevent the employment of cupping-glasses, the wound should be sucked. This can be done without danger, provided the person who sucks has no sore on his lips or in the mouth; it would be well to take salt or garlic into the mouth. The sucking must be strong and continuous, and the wound must be drawn well open. Whilst sucking press your hand firmly towards the wound over the adjoining parts, particularly from the side next to the heart. After everything has thus been drawn from the wound, the best external remedy is heat. Whatever can be had soonest, red-hot iron or coals — if nothing better, a lighted cigar — must be brought as near to the wound as possible, without causing violent pains, and without burning the skin. Cauterizing, or burning with a hot iron, is useless, because it destroys the smaller vessels. Apply, therefore, the hot iron or coals as close to the wound as the patient can bear it. As soon as the iron or coal cools, have another ready. Place several pieces of iron at once in the fire, and change them frequently; and take care that there is a sufficient supply of red-hot coals. The heat should only operate upon the wound, and on the parts immediately around it, and not on too large a space. Do not blow the coals which you apply, this would cool the skin too much. If you have oil or fat at hand, smear it around the wound for three or four inches and when absorbed, renew it. If you have no oil or fat, take soap or saliva. Whatever oozes forth from the wound must be carefully wiped away. Continue to apply heat until the patient begins to shudder and to stretch; if this should occur soon, continue the application for an hour if he can bear it, or until the symptoms of the poison give way. If these symptoms return, renew the application. After the would has been thus treated, rub into it salt and gunpowder, cigar ashes or wood ashes, whichever is at hand, but fine salt is best. At the same time the patient must be kept as quiet as possible, the less motion or agitation he is subjected to the better.
