Much has been said and written about antidotes to the venomous bites of snakes, and Mr. Rafinesque enumerates over again several plants which have been said to be, and which he appears to believe to be specifics. If the case was my own, I would be very unwilling to rely upon either of the 20 or 30 medicinal plants, dubiously mentioned by the late Professor Barton, as reputed antidotes for this poison. It would be more prudent to resort unhesitatingly to a more certain remedy, in the ligature, and immediate excision of the part, where such an operation was practicable, or to cauterization, if the part could not be removed by the knife. In conversation with Professor Cooper upon this subject, he informed me that in his domestic medical practice he applied common chalk to the wounds occasioned by the stings of hymenopterous insects. That in consequence of this mode of treatment, the pain was immediately allayed, and the consequent inflammation and intumescence were prevented. The experiment which led to this result was induced by the supposition that the venomous liquid might be an acid, which opinion was, in some degree, justified by the event.[34] Upon the same neutralizing principle it must be supposed that any alkali would be beneficial. The learned Professor supposed, that the venom of the poisonous reptilia may, in like manner, be an acid secretion, and recommends this to be ascertained by experiments upon the liquid itself. If this inference proves correct, the same alkaline remedy may be employed to neutralize, or so modified as to stimulate, in case, as is supposed by some, the poison produces upon the system a typhoid action.