Questions and answers. Volume 25, No. 12 (1929)

35) Please inform me about snakebite therapy. Subscr. No. 1032. Answer. First aid for being bitten by a poisonous snake consists in immediately sucking out the poison that has fallen from the wounds with a bloodsucking can. In order to slow down the absorption of the poison, it is recommended to drag the limb above the bite site. The area of ​​the bite should be aseptically excised, and the swollen edematous tissues should be incised to improve venom discharge; apply a sterile bandage and fix the limb in the splint. Cauterization of the wound is not recommended, since the resulting scab prevents the release of poison. The general treatment should be directed towards the elevation of cardiac activity by subcutaneous injection of ol. campharae by subcutaneous and intravenous infusion of saline sodium chloride solution. Calmett recommends the use of antitoxic serum (intravenous 300-400 cps) of a horse immunized with long-term injections of snake venom.