24
SNAKEBITES
HOW THEY SHOULD BE TREATED
To prevent circulation of the poison the blood circulation at the bite should be stopped at once if such a course is possible. This is done by applying a ligature at some point between the bite and the heart. It is a good plan to carry a length of about two feet of strong and fairly thick cord for use as a ligature. The bite should be thoroughly scarified by making a series of incisions an eighth of an inch or so deep across the punctures made by the fangs. The ligature on the limb will prevent extensive bleeding and what bleeding occurs will be useful in that it will carry some of the poison out of the wound. When the bite has been thoroughly scarified, permanganate of potash should be poured into the hand and rubbed well into the scarified woun
