Venomous Snakes: Envenoming, Therapy, Second Edition

357 Pages·2010·5.16 MB·English

by  Jiri Valenta

REPTILES – CLASSIFICATION, EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMS

V S - E ,
ENOMOUS NAKES NVENOMING
THERAPY

No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or

by any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no
expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No
liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information
contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in
rendering legal, medical or any other professional services.
R – C , E
EPTILES LASSIFICATION VOLUTION
S
AND YSTEMS

Additional books in this series can be found on Nova’s website at:

https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=23_29&seriesp=Reptiles+-
+Classification%2C+Evolution+and+Systems
REPTILES – CLASSIFICATION, EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMS

V S - E ,
ENOMOUS NAKES NVENOMING
THERAPY

JIRI VALENTA

Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
New York
2nd revised edition (1st edition in Czech: Galen Publishing, Prague 2008)
Photos: Ing Vladislav T. Jirousek - www.zoo-foto.cz, Petr Velensky, Dr Jiri Valenta
Figures: Karel Vavra
List of venomous snakes, zoological cooperation: Dr Ivan Rehak, CSc.

Copyright © 2010 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic, tape, mechanical
photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the Publisher.

For permission to use material from this book please contact us:
Telephone [phone]; Fax [phone]
Web Site: http://www.novapublishers.com

NOTICE TO THE READER
The Publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this book, but makes no expressed or
implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No
liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of
information contained in this book. The Publisher shall not be liable for any special,
consequential, or exemplary damages resulting, in whole or in part, from the readers’ use of, or
reliance upon, this material.

Independent verification should be sought for any data, advice or recommendations contained in
this book. In addition, no responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage
to persons or property arising from any methods, products, instructions, ideas or otherwise
contained in this publication.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the
subject matter covered herein. It is sold with the clear understanding that the Publisher is not
engaged in rendering legal or any other professional services. If legal or any other expert
assistance is required, the services of a competent person should be sought. FROM A
DECLARATION OF PARTICIPANTS JOINTLY ADOPTED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND A COMMITTEE OF PUBLISHERS.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Valenta, Jiri, 1960- Venomous snakes : envenoming, therapy / Jiri Valenta. -- 2nd rev. ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-61209-217-1 (eBook)

Published by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (cid:30)  New York
CONTENTS

Preface vii
Introduction ix
List of Abbreviations xiii
Chapter 1 Zoological Basis 1
Chapter 2 Epidemiology of Snakebites 17
Chapter 3 Snake Venoms 27
Chapter 4 Snake Antivenoms 51
Chapter 5 Snakebite: Therapy and Prevention 59
Chapter 6 Envenoming and Snakebite Treatment in Specific Snake Groups 85
Chapter 7 List of Venomous Snakes 235
Glossary 289
Author’s Affiliation 301
Index 303
Pictures 323

PREFACE

This is a comprehensive monograph on the problems of intoxication incurred by snake
venom. This publication is primarily intended for those at all levels of health care, for
members of rescue teams, surgeries and emergency hospitals, as well as specialized
workplaces and intensive care units. Providing didactic instructions for first aid and treatment
procedures, information is also presented on venomous snakes, the fundaments of their
morphology and behavior, snakebite prevention, the composition of snake venom, symptoms
of envenoming, plus first aid in the event of snakebite for non-professionals, travelers, terrain
biologists, and breeders. This book features an updated alphabetical list of types and sub-
types of all venomous snakes, including their home ranges, as well as a comprehensive index,
list of abbreviations, glossary, and color picture insert with one hundred photographs of
venomous snakes.

INTRODUCTION

Few creatures in the history of man have attracted more attention than snakes. One of the
first attempts to describe a snake in literature can be found in the Bible, where it is described
in the Old Testament as ‘‘more shrewd than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had
made’’ (Gn 3:1). The serpent is shown as a deceiver, luring Man to fall by eating from the
Tree of Life, for which Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden. For doing so,
the snake is castigated by God with punishments it bears still. ‘The Lord God said to the
serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the wild beasts and all the
living creatures of the field! On your belly you will crawl and dust you will eat all the days of
your life. And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and
her offspring; her offspring will attack your head, and you will attack her offspring’s heel.”
(Gn 3:14-15). As is evident from the Old Testament, the snake acts neither as Satan nor for
him at this point. Indeed, it does so on its own behalf, saying to Eve, ‘‘Surely you will not die,
for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine
beings who know good and evil.’’ (Gn 3:4-5) In no case should this be viewed as temptation
or a satanic notion, but rather as a step towards another stage of evolution for mankind. In
fact, let this be the start of the biblical serpent’s reformation. After all, it was only an enticer,
for did not Woman perform what was forbidden?
The cult of the snake has played a part or is visible in many cultures, religions, and
traditions. Examples not only include cave paintings in Spain and France, but also others by
the Bushmen of South Africa and Australian aborigines, as well as in prehistory and more
recent times.
Mention should be made of the vital role played by the cobra in the history of Egypt. Its
intrinsic link to the cult of Imhotep - the builder and healer - was in the form of Ureus. This
sacred serpent became a potent symbol of the divinity and power of Egyptian pharaohs,
indeed it was the insignia of the kings - the headband shaped as an upright cobra with an
outstretched hood. Furthermore, snakes were important as ritual animals in antiquity: be it in
the Greek rooms of healing known as asclepieions, or Roman temples to Vesta, where snakes
were kept by the Vestal Virgins. The serpent symbolized fruitfulness and wisdom both for the
antique world and ancient Egypt.
Greek myths attribute the origin, or at least the occurrence of snakes in North Africa, to
the hideous and deadly creature of Medusa as a result of her death at the hand of Perseus,
poetically described by Ovid as: ‘‘For the one achieved high heaven, and the other, (as he
bore the viperous monster-head) on sounding wings hovered a conqueror in the fluent air,
over sands, Libyan, where the Gorgon-head dropped clots of gore, that, quickening on the