In order to prevent the absorption of the venom introduced into the wound, the first precaution to be taken is to compress the bitten limb by means of a ligature of some kind, such as a handkerchief, as close as possible to the bite, and between it and the base of the limb. The ligature must be tightly twisted, and, by compressing the tissues around the bite, an attempt should be made to squeeze out the venom that may have been introduced into them. The expulsion of the poison should be hastened, either by making an incision 2 or 3 cm. in length and 1 cm. in depth in the direction taken by the fangs of the reptile and also parallel to the axis of the bitten member, or by sucking the wound hard. The ligature on the limb should not be applied for more than half an hour; if it were kept on longer it would interfere with the circulation to a dangerous degree, and would certainly injure the vitality of the tissues. The period in question also usually affords sufficient time for taking the patient to a place where help can be obtained, and for the preparation of everything necessary for his subsequent treatment. The wound should then be freely washed with a fresh 2 _per cent._ solution of _hypochlorite of lime_, or with a 1 in 1,000 solution of _chloride of gold_. In default of hypochlorite of lime or chloride of gold, either _eau de Javel_, diluted with tepid water to a strength of 1 in 10, or a 1 per cent. solution of permanganate of potash, may be employed. These reagents should be made to penetrate as deeply as possible into the tissues, and a few cubic centimetres of them should even be injected with a Pravaz syringe into the punctures caused by the bite and all round them. The wound being then covered with a damp dressing by means of compresses saturated with hypochlorite of lime, or at least with pure alcohol, the next thing to be done is to prepare to apply the serum-therapic treatment in order to arrest the general intoxication, if this has already commenced to take effect, or to prevent it from setting in. For the employment of serum it is necessary to be in possession of a sterilisable syringe of the capacity of 10 c.c., similar to those used in the treatment of diphtheria. If the life of the patient be not immediately in danger, care should first be taken to have the syringe boiled, or at least to rinse it out with boiling water, making sure that the piston fits tightly, and that the syringe itself is in good working order. Should a syringe of 10 c.c. not be available, any kind of Pravaz syringe, previously washed out with boiling water, may be employed, but in this case the use of so small an instrument renders it necessary to give several painful injections.