the case of a private
of the Thirteenth Infantry who was bitten in the throat by a large
rattlesnake. The wound was immediately sucked by a comrade, and the man
reported at the Post Hospital, at Camp Cooke, Montana, three hours
after the accident. The only noticeable appearance was a slightly wild
look about the eyes, although the man did not seem to be the least
alarmed. The region of the wound was hard and somewhat painful,
probably from having been bruised by the teeth of the man who sucked
the wound; it remained so for about three hours. The throat was bound
up in rancid olive oil (the only kind at hand) and no internal remedy
was administered. There were no other bad consequences, and the patient
soon returned to duty.

Le Carpentier sends the report of a fatal case of rattlesnake-bite: A
private, aged thirty-seven, remarkable for the singularity of his
conduct, was known in his Company as a snake-charmer, as he had many
times, without injury, handled poisonous snakes. On the morning of July
13, 1869, he was detailed as guard with the herd at Fort Cummings, New
Mexico, when, in the presence of the herders, he succeeded in catching
a rattlesnake and proving his power as a sorcerer. The performance
being over and the snake killed, he caught sight of another of the same
class, and tried to duplicate his previous feat; but his dexterity
failed, and he was bitten in the middle finger of the right hand. He
was immediately admitted to the Post Hospital, complaining only of a
little pain, such as might follow the sting of a bee or wasp. A
ligature was applied above the wound; the two injuries made by the
fangs were enlarged by a bistoury; ammonia and the actual cautery were
applied; large doses of whiskey were repeated frequently, the
constitution of the patient being broken and poor. Vomiting soon came
on but was stopped without trouble, and there were doubts from the
beginning as to his recovery. The swelling of the hand and arm
gradually increased, showing the particular livid and yellowish tint
following the bites of poisonous snakes. A blister was applied to the
bitten finger, tincture of iodin used, and two ounces of whiskey given
every two hours until inebriety was induced. The pulse, which was very
much reduced at first, gained gradually under the influence of
stimulants; two grains of opium were given at night, the patient slept
well, and on the next day complained only of numbness in the arm. The
swelling had e