Snake-bite.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 10, 12 January 1870, Page 2

Snake-bite.

We have received a lengthened account of the case of suake-bite treated by Dr Bowling, of Talbot, from which we extract the particulars of most public interest. The snake, about five feet in length, was pinned to the ground through the tail at the time he bit Mr Coutts, which he did twice. The case was of such severity that Dr Dowling had to inject ammonia three times into a vein of the right arm, and twice into a vein of the left arm, before the remedy was complete. After every injection, except the fourth, there was an instantaneous improvement, marked by returning consciousness, better pulse, breathing, and complexion. The doctor neither scarified the part nor applied any local remedy, wishing to trust solely to the ammoniacal injection. He thus concludes : "Whatever may be the opinion of others who are much given to theorising and criticising without experience, of this I am convinced, that for the poison of the brown or diamond snake, the ammonia is the direct antidote ; and in any number of cases where they could be treated sufficiently soon I should be as confident as to their issue as we can naturally be for anything in our somewhat uncertain art."— Australasian. Another instance of successful treatment of snake-bite by the injection of ammonia, as recommended by Professor Halfcrd, is recorded in a recent issue of the Gipps Land Times. A middle-aged healthylooking woman was bitten on the leg by a very large snake (described as being lightcoloured and spotted), about half-past ten on the morning of the 20th November. She fell down, and became unconscious, and on being taken home she became very faint, and vomited, which gave her relief. A bandage was applied above and below the knee, and for a while she appeared slightly better, but towards evening the symptoms returned with greater severity, and she became worse, notwithstanding that she was made to swallow a glass of brandy with about ten drops of strong liquid ammonia. Dr Eccles, of Tarraville, was then sent for, and arrived thirteen hours after the woman had been bitten. Her pulse was then very weak, and the surface of her body was also cold and clammy, and she was kept awake with great difficulty. The wound was at once scarified, and saturated with strong liquid ammonia, and some brandy was administered, the patient being kept constantly moving about. As she appeared to derive no immediate benefit from this treatment, it was determined to employ the Injection of ammonia, as recommended by Professor Halford. A vein in the woman's right arm was then opened, and seven drops of strong liquid ammonia, diluted in a drachm and a half of lukewarm wator, were in jected by means of a small glass syringe, more brandy being also administered, Still the symptoms gradually increased, and the breathing became so low and quick as to be scarcely perceptible. Heat was applied to the extremities, and ammonia was again injected. In about twenty minutes she recovered sufficiently to express a wish to be alone. After a while the general state of the circulation became more active, the unfavourable symptoms disappeared, and about four hours afterwards it was considered safe to let the patient go to sleep. When she awoke she had quite recovered.