A Case of Snake-Bite

As with most ailments not readily curable, empirical treatment and pseudo-specifics have been applied, to a very great extent, in the condition resulting from the bites of poisonous snakes. To enumerate all the substances which have from time to time been imposed on the credulity of mankind as remedies, would indeed be an endless task. The ancient physicians extolled preparations of the serpent itself. Both Seneca and Pliny inform us that human saliva was believed to be a powerful remedy. A great variety of vegetables have been celebrated, the principal one being the nagliawullee ramentce, or ophirrhiza mungos, called by Sir "William Jones chandraca. In Australia the root of the common male fern, polypodium filiic mas, has long been used as a secret cure.* Waringf gives a list, of fifty-five plants, of reputed efficacy in snake-bites. The famous Tanjore pill contains several vegetable materials, among others croton oil. The people of Scinde use a mixture of