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Archiver > SOG-UK > 1999-05 > 0926582957


From: David Hawgood <>
Subject: [SOG-UK-L] Wine for medicinal purposes
Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 04:09:17 -0400


"An Indian soldier was bitten by a large snake believed to be a cobra. He
was brought to the Captain's house within 15 minutes, with his jaws locked,
eyes fixed and little sign of life. His jaws were forced open and a funnel
inserted. Two bottles of warm madeira wine were poured into him within 30
minutes; after a torpor of 40 hours, he completely recovered! This form of
treatment was the one was commonly used by Europeans in the Carnatic."

This was reported by Dr Patrick Russell (and my wife Barabara wrote a
paper about him, "The Life and Viper of Dr Patrick Russell MD FRS
(1727-1805): Physician and naturalist", Toxicon vol 32 no 11 p1295-1304,
1994). In the 1780s he investigated remedies for snakebite near Madras and
this amazingly alcoholic recovery is one he reported. This treatment is not
advised now! Later research shows that in many instances a snake does not
deliver a fatal dose when biting in self defence, so the soldier would
probably have recovered sooner without the madeira!

regards,
David Hawgood

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