And you think Australia has a lot of snakes!
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (334404)
Rockingham, Australia
October 10, 2017 7:01pm CST
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.
22 people like this
24 responses
@kobesbuddy (78889)
• East Tawas, Michigan
11 Oct 17
I had no idea so many people get bitten, by poisonous snakes!:( Even 450 is a staggering, high number of victims:( What they are doing to save these lives, must be working for many or they couldn't continue on with this treatment.
5 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78889)
• East Tawas, Michigan
11 Oct 17
@JudyEv But, people are so daring, snakes don't leave the place they inhabit. Instead, people go there!
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Oct 17
Down under is the land of funky critters.
4 people like this
@marguicha (219877)
• Chile
11 Oct 17
Fortunatly we don´t have snakes here. Sometimes I read that snakes are caught and sent alive somewhere else. I would kill them if I had my way.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29412)
• Eugene, Oregon
12 Oct 17
What a huge number of bites to treat! That would be a scary place to camp or tramp through wooded areas.
2 people like this
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@JamesHxstatic (29412)
• Eugene, Oregon
12 Oct 17
@JudyEv Nor would I. We had plenty in Texas.
1 person likes this
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@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
11 Oct 17
That's interesting. Sometimes things that modern civilizations think of as "black magic" really do work.
2 people like this
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@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
11 Oct 17
@JudyEv Yes, but if they can use less of the drips and anti-venom by using the old methods then it will save the money and medicine.
1 person likes this
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@snowy22315 (176745)
• United States
20 Dec 17
Well, I am gonna put this in the category of who knew? Certainly not me!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 17
I'm always learning new stuff here, either directly or indirectly.
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@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
11 Oct 17
I can't imagine how tough it must be living in those areas where snakes are everywhere.
I just did a quick search on snake stones, apparently they're used in Africa and South America too.
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2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Oct 17
I've never heard of snake stones before. Interesting.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Feb 18
@Hannihar I suppose we have quite a few. Normally they don't harm people. I've heard of them scrambling up a person if a dog is after them and the goanna can't escape. They just try to climb out the way of the dogs. But mostly they are very timid and disappear as soon as they see you.
1 person likes this
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@subhajitsil6 (961)
• Kolkata, India
11 Oct 17
Snake is among one of those creature which often freaks me out. I hate this creature. Over here in certain parts of India, snake population is very high, and I hate that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 17
Going by these figures there must indeed be a lot of snakes there. We have plenty in Australia I guess but most of us rarely see them.
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 17
The clinic would be rushed off its feet coping with that many victims. There are two nuns and two lay staff coping with the numbers.
@Marilynda1225 (81807)
• United States
11 Oct 17
I've never been fond of snakes so I'm glad I live somewhere that snakes aren't a problem. It does seem that 4500 people were treated for snake bites is on the high side but it could very well be true. Pretty scary to think that many people were bitten. Gives me chills just thinking about it
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 17
That's a huge number a day for 4 people to cope with. Fiacre says it could well be true.
@JudyEv (334404)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Oct 17
It would be off at the speed of light if it thought it had been detected.
@just4him (317038)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Oct 17
It's interesting that the snake stones works and isn't just a lot of story telling to make a person believe in something that won't happen. I've been finding out that ancient recipes actually work better in some cases than modern medicine.
Nice picture of the Australian Sand Monster.
1 person likes this
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