AN INDIGENOUS TREATMENT FOR SNAKE-BITE.
To the Editor, TIIF. INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
following case of cobra bite presents certain
features of interest :—
R., male, aged 36, accidentally stepped on a bino-
cellate cobra, some three inches in girth, which bit him
On the back of the leg about 4 inches above the heel
at 9 P.m. one evening. I saw the patient twenty minutes
later, and discovered two puncture marks from the
fangs, some three-quarters of an inch apart in that
Situation. When first seen, the patient showed no
Symptoms except numbness of the part bitten.
Having no antivenene available, I applied an indi-
genous treatment which is much in vogue in the Ratna-
giri district. The fang marks were well incised and
Chickens, one after the other, with their anuses well
Stretched were applied to the site of the bite. The
first few chickens dropped down dead within a few
minutes. From the 42nd chicken onwards, the patient
stated that he could distinctly feel the aspirating action
Of the chickens. In all 74 chickens died, 12 more were
half-dead but recovered in about six hours, and the
last 6 lost consciousness but recovered speedily; in all
96 chickens were used. The whole treatment took
three hours and a quarter. Most of the chickens died
within three minutes. The strongest suckers were hens
in their prime. Hens which had laid eggs were quite
useless, and young peepees unsatisfactory. Three or four
Incisions were made at the site of the bite, and from
time to time refreshed with the knife.
Cases of cobra bite are generally treated in this way
in the Ratnagiri district, and the patients are usually
cured if the treatment is begun early enough. This
case shows that cobra venom can be sucked out. Those
who are in a position to do so, should try whether wet-
cupping cannot cure such cases.—Yours, etc.,
K. V. KUBAB
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Lol if a dang puller/venom extractor isn’t in your go bag/edc
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