Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume III, 1863-1867Various
Science
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume III, 1863-1867
Various
California Academy of Sciences -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
The branches and roots of this plant contain a quantity of
a milky sap. This is obtained by pounding and squeezing the
plant, and is given to the patient in doses of about one
drachm. The remaining fibres of the pressed-out plant are
externally applied on the wound. The dose is repeated every
hour,—or in aggravated cases, every half hour,—until the
patient feels relieved; which will occur in a few hours. The
external application must be frequently renewed.
I ascertained from reliable authority, that two dogs, being
bitten by rattlesnakes, were cured, one after four, and the
other after six repetitions of the dose. The poultice was
frequently changed. Both dogs were perfectly restored within
twenty-four hours.
Tepic, March 28th, 1865.
...Myself and companion arrived on the 14th of March, 1865,
at 3 o’clock P. M., at San Blas. In the evening, our faces,
necks and hands were badly bitten by myriads of sandflies. The
sting of these flies is exceedingly painful, and the effects of
them last for several days. Every person visiting San Blas will
not easily forget these insects; each sting produces a reddish
swelling, which hardens after awhile, and sometimes remains for
eight days and more. We left San Blas on the 15th of March, at
1.30 A. M., and arrived at 5 P. M. at Tepic. The fly-bites were
excruciatingly painful. On the 16th we used liquid ammoniac to
allay our suffering, but without result. In the forenoon of
the 17th I found two small Gollindrinera plants in the streets
of Tepic; I pulled it, roots and all, from the ground, broke
them into several parts, and rubbed the milky juice over my
sores. In half an hour all the pain had left. Not being able
to find any more of the plants, my companion had to suffer for
several days longer; which proves, however, that my relief from
the tormenting pain was directly to be credited to the medical
virtue of the Gollindrinera.
During my lengthened stay among the natives of Australia,
I observed that no black man ever died from the bite of
a venomous reptile,—excepting always the dead-adder,
(bothrops)—while a white man seldom escaped death. The remedy
of the blacks is very simple, consisting merely in sucking
out the wound, and in keeping awake the patient for at least
twenty-four to forty-eight hours. The dead adder (bothrops)
of Australia is probably the most poisonous reptile. A black
man, if bitten by this snake, will be abandoned to death by his
friends, they being sure that help is out of the question. I
witnessed once the death of a victim of the dead-adder.
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