Abstract
I WAS an eye-witness to the following:—My brother was walking within a field of the Land's End when he stooped to pick up a large snake, apparently nearly a yard long, which bit him on the thumb. The bite became very painful in a few moments, and we realised for the first time that it was poisoned. In less than five minutes he was in the hotel and swallowed half a pint of neat brandy, and soon after some ammonia and water, without any effect. The wound had been well sucked and was steeped in ammonia, but the arm soon swelled to the size of the body, and the swelling began to extend down the ribs. The thumb was lanced while immersed in hot water, and the result was similar to the first gashes in a shoulder of mutton, the exposed flesh being dark mulberry colour, and not a drop of blood flowing. He recovered in seven or eight days, but was weak for some time.
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GARDNER, J. Snake Bite. Nature 29, 6 (1883). https://doi.org/10.1038/029006b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/029006b0
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