The entire contents of a bottle of serum (10 c.c. of liquid serum, or 1 gramme of dry serum dissolved in 10 c.c. of boiled water) should be injected into the subcutaneous areolar tissue of the abdomen, on the right or left side. There is no advantage in making the injection at the actual spot bitten; the serum is best and most rapidly absorbed when injected into the loose tissues of the abdominal wall (fig. 95). [Illustration: FIG. 95.--TECHNIQUE OF THE INJECTION OF ANTIVENOMOUS SERUM BENEATH THE SKIN OF THE ABDOMEN.] If it has been impossible to apply the treatment until several hours after the bite, and if the latter has been inflicted by a poisonous snake of large size or belonging to a very dangerous species, such as the Cobra or Indian Krait, it is preferable to inject into the patient three whole doses of serum at once. In cases in which the phenomena of serious intoxication have already appeared, and when asphyxia threatens, one must not hesitate to inject 10 or even 20 c.c. of serum directly _into a vein_. For such an injection it is most convenient to choose a superficial vein at the elbow or wrist, or on the back of the hand. The introduction of serum into the veins is never dangerous if good care be taken not to allow either bubbles of air or particles of precipitated albumin to enter. It is not advisable to repeat the injections beneath the skin or into the veins unless the general symptoms appear to become more acute. In most cases the local pain, excitement, and attacks of cramp and nausea disappear within a few minutes after the first injection. Improvement progresses very rapidly, and by the following day the patient has recovered. The administration of ammonia, alcohol, morphia, or ether by the mouth is entirely superfluous. These drugs, as I have already stated, may even be harmful to the patient and hinder the effects of the serum. All that should be done is to give copious hot drinks, tea or coffee, and to cover up the patient warmly in order to induce abundant perspiration. The bitten member should not be cauterised with red hot iron or with chemical agents of any kind, since such cauterisations only lead to injuries which are too often prejudicial to the normal action of the affected organs. _Treatment of Poisonous Bites in the Case of Domestic Animals._--It often happens that dogs, horses, or cattle are bitten and succumb to the poisoning in a few hours or in two or three days. Such accidents are especially frequent among sporting dogs, even in Europe, in regions in which _vipers_ are found. In most cases, dogs, horses, and cattle are bitten on the nose, and such bites are immediately followed by a very painful swelling, which arouses the suspicion of the owners of the animals. It is then necessary, as soon as possible, to inject subcutaneously in the right or left flank, or at the base of the neck, one or two doses of antivenomous serum, according to the gravity of the effects observed.