And you think Australia has a lot of snakes!

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My sister-in-law was a nun and belonged to a French order. She passed away some years ago but we still support her order and receive a newsletter from time to time. Although once a teaching order, they have moved more into missionary work. One of their missions is in Kanti, a small district in Bihar, Central India where they have a clinic which deals mainly in snake-bite victims. Most of the patients are poor labourers and/or farmers who come in from remote villages. During summer the people often sleep outdoors and can be bitten by poisonous snakes such as kraits, cobras and vipers. The article says they use ‘snake stones’ which absorb the poison from the body. This treatment is supported by anti-venom injections and drips. To me, snake stones reek of black magic and indeed the snake-bite victims in this area often seek the help of the local witch-doctor first. I researched snake stones and it seems they are charred pieces of cow bone, Being highly porous, when placed on the site of the bite it absorbs any moisture, venom or otherwise, by capillary action. At some point the weight of the bone plus the fluid it has absorbed causes it to fall from the limb or skin – just like a miracle. Some bites from venomous snakes are ‘dry bites’ – more a warning than a lethal bite and no or little venom may be injected. So it seems likely that the drip and anti-venom injections do more towards curing the victim than the snake-stones. But no doubt the stones play a part in reassuring the victim that he can be cured. But what I found astonishing is that in 2016, some 4500 patients were treated. I have no reason to disbelieve the figures but this was staggering to me. Maybe it’s a misprint and should be 450. The photo is of an Australian sand monitor, known to us as a 'race-horse goanna' because of its speed. It is harmless and very shy.