Venoms: Venomous Animals and Antivenomous Serum-therapeuticsCalmette, A. (Albert)
Science
Venoms: Venomous Animals and Antivenomous Serum-therapeutics
Calmette, A. (Albert)
Antitoxins; Poisonous snakes; Toxins; Venom
“The treatment prescribed in Dr. Calmette’s directions was then
strictly followed. With the usual antiseptic precautions, I made
several hypodermic injections of the solution of hypochlorite of
calcium round the bite, and injected the dose of serum indicated in two
places in the abdominal wall. The patient was then vigorously rubbed
and covered with woollen blankets. He was made to take two cups of a
strong infusion of black coffee. Since he could not be induced to go
to hospital, he was carried half an hour later to his home, where he
placed himself in the hands of a ‘dresser.’
“According to information furnished by Captain Martin, who lived on
the spot and was able to follow the course of the case, the patient
remained throughout the day in a state of profound prostration, and had
several attacks of syncope. The injured limb was greatly swollen, and
the swelling, which extended to above the knee, produced a mechanical
difficulty in using the joint, leading to a belief that paralysis was
setting in. During the first five days the condition of the patient was
so alarming as to cause a fatal issue to be apprehended. By degrees
these symptoms diminished, until they disappeared about the fifth day.
“On the twentieth day, C. returned to his work. I saw him again a
month later, when he was in perfect health; his leg had returned to
its normal size, and all that remained were two small fibrous nodules
showing where the bite had been inflicted.”
XXXV.--Case reported by Dr. Gries, Fort-de-France, Martinique.
“On June 21, 1896, a young black, who had just been bitten in the
foot by a _Bothrops_ of large size, was brought to the Fort-de-France
Hospital. The entire limb was swollen and benumbed.
“Two hours after the accident I gave an injection of 10 c.c. of serum
in the abdomen, and the patient was taken back to his family. I saw
him again ten days later, and found that he was quite cured. His
friends stated that recovery had taken place much more quickly than
could have been hoped after so serious a bite, and without the usual
complications.”
XXXVI.--Case reported by Dr. Gries, Fort-de-France, Martinique.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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