A CASE OP SNAKE-POISONING TREATED WITH STRYCHNIA: RECOVERY. By Surgeon-Captain S. E. Prall, m.b., i.m.s. Civil Surgeon, Bijapur.
M., male, aged 30, half-witted,
was
brought
the Police to the Bijapur Civil Hospital at 11 a.m., August 23rd. He was holding tightly on to a small living cobra with his left hand and both hands were somewhat swollen. There were drops of blood on the terminal joint of the right thumb and also on the left index finger, and in the first position the punctures of the snake's fangs were afterwards found with a lens. On admission, 11 a.m.?Patient sensible, but drowsy. 11-30 A.M.?Drowsiness and depression much increased and patient is now unable to sit up. Salivation set in and the skin grew cold. The pulse was 112, and the breathing hurried and shallow. At this time patient ate six chillies without perceiving their pungency. Senior Hospital Assistant Patel in charge of the Hospital,'' on the appearance of the above grave symptoms, injected hypodermically 15 minims of the liquor strychnise B. P. 12-30 P.M.?Toxic symptoms increased. Injection, hypodermically repeated, minim 15. 1-30 p.m.?Symptoms increased markedly with, in addition, difficulty of swallowing. Injection repeated, minim 15. 3-30 p.m.?When I first saw him at this hour his extremities were quite cold, he was profusely salivated and had great difficulty in ridding himself of the constant accumulation of fluid. He could only be roused by shouting, and then his answers were all but unintelligible. Heart's sounds regular, but almost inaudible; pulse 114, small, soft and regular. Respiration 34, shallow and hurried. Patellar reflexes both exaggerated especially the right. Both hands were much swollen and the right thumb blackened. Injection repeated, minim 15, into the prajcordial region. This injection proved to be the last necessary as within 15 minutes muscular spasms set in, the patient being fully under the physiological influence of the strychnia. Thenceforward his recovery was rapid. At 6 P.M. his body was warm, he was sensible and complained of his hands. He was still under the influence of strychnia, but this passed away, and no more twitchings-were noticed after 9 P.M. He slept well, and next morning was completely recovered save for his swelled hands. Altogether 3i of the liquor strychnise was injected, and it is noteworthy that so small a snake (this cobra was a young one and measured only 16 inches) can produce such grave symptoms.
by
M., male, aged 30, half-witted,
was
brought
the Police to the Bijapur Civil Hospital at 11 a.m., August 23rd. He was holding tightly on to a small living cobra with his left hand and both hands were somewhat swollen. There were drops of blood on the terminal joint of the right thumb and also on the left index finger, and in the first position the punctures of the snake's fangs were afterwards found with a lens. On admission, 11 a.m.?Patient sensible, but drowsy. 11-30 A.M.?Drowsiness and depression much increased and patient is now unable to sit up. Salivation set in and the skin grew cold. The pulse was 112, and the breathing hurried and shallow. At this time patient ate six chillies without perceiving their pungency. Senior Hospital Assistant Patel in charge of the Hospital,'' on the appearance of the above grave symptoms, injected hypodermically 15 minims of the liquor strychnise B. P. 12-30 P.M.?Toxic symptoms increased. Injection, hypodermically repeated, minim 15. 1-30 p.m.?Symptoms increased markedly with, in addition, difficulty of swallowing. Injection repeated, minim 15. 3-30 p.m.?When I first saw him at this hour his extremities were quite cold, he was profusely salivated and had great difficulty in ridding himself of the constant accumulation of fluid. He could only be roused by shouting, and then his answers were all but unintelligible. Heart's sounds regular, but almost inaudible; pulse 114, small, soft and regular. Respiration 34, shallow and hurried. Patellar reflexes both exaggerated especially the right. Both hands were much swollen and the right thumb blackened. Injection repeated, minim 15, into the prajcordial region. This injection proved to be the last necessary as within 15 minutes muscular spasms set in, the patient being fully under the physiological influence of the strychnia. Thenceforward his recovery was rapid. At 6 P.M. his body was warm, he was sensible and complained of his hands. He was still under the influence of strychnia, but this passed away, and no more twitchings-were noticed after 9 P.M. He slept well, and next morning was completely recovered save for his swelled hands. Altogether 3i of the liquor strychnise was injected, and it is noteworthy that so small a snake (this cobra was a young one and measured only 16 inches) can produce such grave symptoms.
by
