BOTHROPS LANCEOLATUS.
B. lanceolatus, Wagler-Dumeril; synonyms,
Coluber glaucus, Linn. Vipera cærulescens, Laurent; Coluber megara, Shaw; Cophias
lanceolatus, Merrem; Craspedocephalus lanceolatus, Gray (Trigonocephale jaune, Cuvier;
Vipera jaune; Fer-de-lance).An Ophidian of the family Crotalidæ, found in the Island of Martinique.
Authority.
Dr. Ch. Ozanam, L’Art. Méd., 19, 116 (A collection
of cases (15) and general observations on the effect of the bite, quoted from Dr. Rufz,
“Enquête sur le serpent de la Martinique.”)
MIND.
► Consecutive and
long-lasting hypochondria. ► Ideas confused. ► Coma, becoming deeper until death ensues.
HEAD.
► Vertigo. ► Frequent dizziness. ►
Hemicrania.
EYE.
► Amaurosis (sometimes immediately after the bite). ► Persistent amaurosis. ►
Amaurosis, without perceptible dilatation of the pupil. ►
Hemeralopic amaurosis; can scarcely see her way, especially after sunrise. [10.] ► Pupil a little
dilated.
FACE.
► Altered
countenance. ► Hippocratic countenance. ► Injection, more or less dark and bluish, of the entire
cutaneous surface of the face; a hue like that of cholera in the algid stage, or that in the
last stage of yellow fever.
MOUTH.
► Trismus (after
eighteen days). ► Inability to articulate, without any
affection of the tongue (after seven to fifteen hours).
STOMACH.
► Gastric mucous
membrane dotted red. ► Thirst. ► Nausea and vomiting. ►
Vomiting. [20.] ►
Vomiting, followed by a nervous trembling. ► Painful
sensation extending to the epigastrium. ► Intolerable
epigastric malaise.
ABDOMEN.
► Small intestines
of a livid redness exteriorly. ► Small intestines dotted
red. ► Mucous membrane of the small intestines,
especially the jejunum, inflamed in different parts. ►
Small intestines of a deep blue color, confined entirely to the muscular layer. ► Severe pains in the abdomen, which extend to the epigastrium
and become intolerable (after a few hours). ► The entire
abdomen is sensitive to pressure.
STOOL AND URINE.
►
Colliquative diarrhœa. [30.] ►
Hæmaturia.
RESPIRATORY APPARATUS AND CHEST.
►
Trachea and bronchi blue. ► All the symptoms of pulmonary congestion, oppressed breathing, and bloody
expectoration, more or less profuse (after three to six days). ►
Præcordial pains.
HEART AND PULSE.
► Soft,
flabby heart. ► Black spots on the pericardium and under
the endocardium. ► Pulse and respiration become slow. ► Frequent and compressed pulse.
EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL.
►
Speedy swelling of the bitten limb. ► The swelling, at
first pale and confined to the parts around the bite, becomes livid and involves the entire
limb, both below and above the bite. [40.] ► The swelling of the part bitten gradually extends to a great
distance from its original seat; the limb becomes triple its ordinary size, and is soft and
flabby, appearing as if distended with gas. ► Enormous
bloody infiltration, like that which results from a violent bruise (of the bitten limb). ► The extremities become cold. ►
Almost entire inability to move the right arm or right leg. ►
Paralysis of one arm, or of one leg, only. ► Severe pain
in the bitten limb.
UPPER EXTREMITIES.
► Arm
swollen from hand to shoulder. ► Very considerable
tumefaction of the whole limb, from the fingers to the shoulder and adjacent portion of the
chest, soft, like emphysema, very sensitive, with blue spots. ►
After being bitten in the little finger of one hand
paralysis began in the finger-tips of the other hand,
and extended over the whole of that side. ► Cellular
tissue, and also the muscles of the forearm (where the bite was inflicted) engorged with
black blood. [50.] ►
The bones of the forearm and hand are laid bare. ►
Consecutive necrosis. ► Numbness in the right arm (after
a bite on the right hand). ► Anchylosis and deformity of
the hand, which became united into one immovable bone, with the wrist and fingers packed
together.
LOWER EXTREMITIES.
► Legs
infiltrated with bloody serum. ► Very extensive
suppuration of the leg. ► Destruction of the skin of the
whole leg. ► Left thigh enormously swollen, and of a
bluish color, with here and there blotches of a deeper hue, [6].
► Softening of the cellular tissue in the hollow of the
ham, and at the posterior portion of the thigh, including one half of the limb. ► Gangrene of the skin over the whole anterior portion of the
right leg from the foot to the knee. [60.] ► Gangrene of the muscles of the leg. ►
Inferior extremity of the tibia laid bare (after fifteen days). ►
Tibio-tarsal articulation laid open. ► Paralysis of the
leg. ► Gangrenous ulcer on the great toe. ► Intolerable pain in the right
great toe (the patient having been bitten on the left thumb).
GENERALITIES.
► Œdematous
swellings, like elephantiasis. ► Infiltration of bloody
serum, equally diffused throughout the substance of the cellular tissue, but better marked
in the vicinity of the bites. ► Very extensive
suppuration. ► Suppuration and sero-sanguinolent
infiltration of all the tissues. [70.] ► Within two or three days suppuration sets in, the skin comes
off, and, if the proper incisions are not made, the part becomes gangrened; portions of
cellular tissue are detached, with a reddish sanious discharge; the tendons and bones are
laid bare; the joints are exposed; sphacelus invades the parts, especially the fingers; the
whole limb is dissected alive; colliquation succeeds, and if the patient does not succumb to
the consequences of purulent absorption, or of gangrene, amputation becomes necessary. ► Remarkable fluidity, dissolved condition, of the blood. ► The blood is black, or rusty-looking; very fluid. ► Hemorrhages of various kinds, and especially from wounds. ► Very fluid black blood flows in jets at the least movement. ► Capillary hemorrhage after amputation; blood discharged
continuously, not by jets; very fluid and very pale. ►
Muscles laid bare. ► The blackened muscular tissue is
dissected off bit by bit. ► Caries of the bones. ► Emaciation. [80.] ► Tetanus (after amputation). ►
Nervous trembling. ► Opisthotonos (after fourteen days). ► Convulsions and death (after two days). ►
Paralysis (generally incurable). ► Hemiplegia of the
right side (after five and seven hours). ► Inexpressible
lassitude. ► Weakness. ►
Repeated fainting fits. ► Frequent syncope. [90.] ► Indefinable malaise;
general uneasiness. ► Intolerable pains in the swelling.
SKIN.
► Bluish skin (of the
leg). ► Yellow skin, as in yellow fever. ► Skin as if affected by a most extensive and severe bruise. ► Bloody subcutaneous and intermuscular infiltration. ► Blackish, serous infiltration in the intermuscular tissue. ► Many phlyctenæ are formed under the epidermis (of the bitten
limb). ► Phlyctenæ in the hollow of the ham. ► Obstinate ulcers. [100.] ► Abscess, more or less considerable. ►
Fistulous openings. ► Wounds heal with difficulty.
SLEEP AND DREAMS.
►
Drowsiness. ► Very remarkable sleep or coma, which may
end in death.
FEVER.
► Chilliness. ► Slight shivering, followed by very profuse cold sweat. ► Sometimes very great external heat. ►
General heat. ► High fever. [110.]
► Body covered with a cold and viscid sweat. ► Profuse cold sweats at the beginning and end of the disease.® 2000
Article