Venomous animals / by Sir J. Fayrer.

  • Joseph Fayrer
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Venomous animals / by Sir J. Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    <2 2 14 no doubt, depend on the quantity of poison injected, and the state of health and constitution of the person at the time. The wound alone, without any poison, is likely to be painful and severe from its punctured character; and may require means to relieve tension, evacuate pus, or give exit to sloughs. Ipecacuanha, alkalis, alum, ammonia, have all been recom- mended as useful internal applications to allay the irritating action of such poisons. Poultices of onions, or warm applications of opium or other sedative fomentations, are likely to be useful; and prompt surgical relief, if suppuration or cellulitis occur, is necessary. The constitutional treatment needs no special description; it is such as would be indicated by the condition and progress of any other inflamed punctured wound. In case of depression of the heart’s action, alcohol or ammonia would be indicated. Best, quiet, and due attention to the state of the bowels and of elimination by the skin and kidneys, with careful regulation of the diet, should be observed. Invertebrata. Mollusca.—Aphysia punctata, the sea-hare, a gasteropod, is said by some to produce an irritating secretion capable of causing urtication and even severe inflammation, and of causing the hair to fall off. It was used by Locusta in Hero’s time as an ingredient in poisonous draughts, but it is doubtful if it be even an irritant. Arthropoda, Mykiapoda, family Scolopevdridce, or centi- pedes.—Body long, even to 12 inches, divided into horny seg- ments ; legs short, strong; feet numerous; antennse 17 to 20 joints. They have mandibles or nippers, formed by a pair of dilated feet, joined at their origin, with perforated, hook-like points with an aperture near the apex, through which a poisonous fluid, secreted in a poison gland, sac, and duct, is ejected when they bite, which they can severely. This, in the case of the larger tropical species, is sometimes very painful, and causes considerable local irritation and even constitutional disturbance, and fever and delirium. Dr Linceicum says that he saw a case of a child terminate fatally in six hours; nausea, vomiting, and convulsions preceded death ; body swollen and covered with livid blotches. That of the smaller kind generally causes only local and transient irritation. Centipedes are found all over the world nearly, in Europe and Africa, America, the East and West Indies and Islands, and in the tropics generally. Those of warm climates are the largest and most dangerous. The following are characteristic genera and species:— Scolopendridce—Pallipes. S Crassa. Ceylonicus, Ceylon. Morsifcans, West Indies.
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