RECOVERY AFTER SNAKE-BITE. By R. P. BANERJEE, B.A., g.b.m.s.l., Medical Officer in charge, North India Salt Revenue
Hospital, Pachbadra, Hajputana. On the night of the lltli instant one of the Privates of the detachment of the Erinpura Irregular Force stationed here, named Bliagwandin, at. 42, No. 746, while on his wayback to his guard carrying a pot full of drinking water at half-past 7 p.m. on the road, was bitten by a suake in the dorsum of the right foot between the first and. second metatarsal bones. after the infliction of the heavy, and its motion dull and control over it less and less marked until the gait of the person was tottering, he complained of disability to point out which leg His consciousness was affector foot was bitten. ed, he stammered in speaking, and gait was a one: his voice faltered. Soon afterstafforeriug O OO wards he became comatose and could be only aroused by long and loud calls; even then could very imperfectly answer questions as if like one "half-seas over"?practically he was senseless. There were two punctures about ^ inch deep each, very fine, but distinct, as blood was seen oozing out of them. Bleeding from the punctures was profuse, and dark and venous in characPatient spat and coughed blood, and ter. clots; other wounds on the body also bled
Sijmptoms.?Soon
puncture, the limb
was
'
copiously. Treatment.?A tight ligature was applied over and above the ankle joint of the right leg. Free incision was made to give vent to blood, and the sore was charred by actual cautery. These measures
having had
no
effect, liqr. strych-
niai 15 min. hypodermically injected under the skin about the heart, every 20 minutes, to tetanize the system and prevent the permanent paralysis of the heart. This plan of treatment was successful. The man soon recovered his senses, and his consciousness was restored to him. With the fear of gangrene setting in the ligature was withdrawn, and a stimulant mixture containing simply spt. ammon. aromaticus was given to combat the depression so induced. On the 12th, he was sent to Erinpura and quite recovered before he reached that
place'
276
From the
INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
description of the snake given by the if it is true, it was Echis Carinata most common up here and most poisonous of all. The effect of the poison was slow and was amenable to treatment. The snake is locally called " Baski Pararha," and is much dreaded by the people up here; it varies in shape, size and colour, in while its fang varies usually from 2" to that the desirable is It and is incurved. length, strychnine treatment should be subjected to further trial in cases of effective snake-bite. patient,
[Sept.
1891.
Hospital, Pachbadra, Hajputana. On the night of the lltli instant one of the Privates of the detachment of the Erinpura Irregular Force stationed here, named Bliagwandin, at. 42, No. 746, while on his wayback to his guard carrying a pot full of drinking water at half-past 7 p.m. on the road, was bitten by a suake in the dorsum of the right foot between the first and. second metatarsal bones. after the infliction of the heavy, and its motion dull and control over it less and less marked until the gait of the person was tottering, he complained of disability to point out which leg His consciousness was affector foot was bitten. ed, he stammered in speaking, and gait was a one: his voice faltered. Soon afterstafforeriug O OO wards he became comatose and could be only aroused by long and loud calls; even then could very imperfectly answer questions as if like one "half-seas over"?practically he was senseless. There were two punctures about ^ inch deep each, very fine, but distinct, as blood was seen oozing out of them. Bleeding from the punctures was profuse, and dark and venous in characPatient spat and coughed blood, and ter. clots; other wounds on the body also bled
Sijmptoms.?Soon
puncture, the limb
was
'
copiously. Treatment.?A tight ligature was applied over and above the ankle joint of the right leg. Free incision was made to give vent to blood, and the sore was charred by actual cautery. These measures
having had
no
effect, liqr. strych-
niai 15 min. hypodermically injected under the skin about the heart, every 20 minutes, to tetanize the system and prevent the permanent paralysis of the heart. This plan of treatment was successful. The man soon recovered his senses, and his consciousness was restored to him. With the fear of gangrene setting in the ligature was withdrawn, and a stimulant mixture containing simply spt. ammon. aromaticus was given to combat the depression so induced. On the 12th, he was sent to Erinpura and quite recovered before he reached that
place'
276
From the
INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
description of the snake given by the if it is true, it was Echis Carinata most common up here and most poisonous of all. The effect of the poison was slow and was amenable to treatment. The snake is locally called " Baski Pararha," and is much dreaded by the people up here; it varies in shape, size and colour, in while its fang varies usually from 2" to that the desirable is It and is incurved. length, strychnine treatment should be subjected to further trial in cases of effective snake-bite. patient,
[Sept.
1891.
