Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Disease, Medical Treatment, Narcotics, Homeopathy, Periodicals

    Discusses the claim made by Jules G B Cloquet at the Académie des Sciences, Paris that, according to a communication from a M de la Gironièrre, snakebites can be cured by drinking alcohol. Emphasises that Gironnièrre had made a patient suffering from snakebite 'dead drunk three times over' and consequently saved his life. Punch considers this claim to support 'the homeopathic axiom' that like poisons cure like, but adds that in this case the quantities 'are far from infinitesimal'. Concludes by noting that ordinary cases of snakebite may be cured with 'milder forms of spiritous liqours', but thinks 'Punch' will be able to cure even more deadly bites, a claim which it supports on the boast that it is 'peculiarly antagonistic to the virulence of poisonous reptiles'.