Aussie Pythons and Snakes

Bryony · #31 06-Jul-04, 12:08 PM

yeah biggy we worrie about you :wink:
let us know how your little jelly beans go (kidneys)
i'm glad to hear that your hand is back to normal, did you take anything for the vomiting? like maxalon?

Fuscus · #32 06-Jul-04, 12:09 PM

I went and got a tetnus shot after I got bitten by some of my pythons. At first the doctor was reluctent to do
jab me until I told him why. You should have seen the look on his face, but I got my shot.

earthmother · #33 06-Jul-04, 01:58 PM

Bigguy I hope you're okay now. Please tell your wife next time, I'd hate to not know what my husband died of through the night.

Can you outline the symptoms you felt and when you noticed them?

This post should have a warning of "Kids - Don't try this at home" lol!

I trust that Biguy knows what he's doing, otherwise he wouldn't have lived long enough to be the "Big Guy".
Em

Sdaji · #34 06-Jul-04, 02:41 PM

There's definately a lot of misinformation going around about snake venom/bites. I don't claim to be an expert but I know a lot of what I hear is inaccurate because a lot of the things I hear contradict each other. I guess it's not too suprising since most of what you hear about anything is garbage and with something like snake venom peoples' egos get stirred and all sorts of s#!t starts flying. I'm not refering to anyone here, but since the topic has been raised, perhaps some people can clear a few things up.

Is sucking the bite all that dangerous? As far as I can tell (but I'm not claiming to be sure, it's just based on what I've read and heard, which may well be crap) it is extremely unlikely that you'll suffer any ill effects, even if you have a small ulcer etc in your mouth. I've seen footage of people drinking rattlesnake venom (apparently it's quite common with some of those warped religious cults). Does anyone know of anyone suffering ill effects from venom from any means other that being bitten?

Also, I've spoken to a few proffessional immunologists and they've told me that you are no more likely to get an allergic reaction to venom or antivenene than you are to pretty much any other non self compounds, including the different types of food that you eat. Apparently allergies to snake venom/antivenene are very rare but get spoken about because of peoples' love of exaggerating or making stuff up when it comes to snakes. It's not all that unusual for snake bite victims to die and sometimes people wrongly say it was due to allergies rather than the toxicity of the venom.

Anyway, there's a whole lot more I would like to crap on about (I'm stuck in the lab for hours a day lately, doing little more than a couple of seconds worth of work a few times an hour) but I've probably crapped on too much already.

Once again, I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, just saying what I've heard and asking what you think, please don't scream at me for being wrong (sorry, I'm probably just used to the nastier lists!)

-John

soulweaver · #35 06-Jul-04, 02:54 PM

i heard that if you get bitten by a red bellie you can still gets pains and stuff for up too two years or so after.......any truth in that?

Magpie · #36 06-Jul-04, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Also, I've spoken to a few proffessional immunologists and they've told me that you are no more likely to get an allergic reaction to venom or antivenene than you are to pretty much any other non self compounds, including the different types of food that you eat. Apparently allergies to snake venom/antivenene are very rare but get spoken about because of peoples' love of exaggerating or making stuff up when it comes to snakes. It's not all that unusual for snake bite victims to die and sometimes people wrongly say it was due to allergies rather than the toxicity of the venom.

Not quite true. You are no more likely to be allergic to these things than any other protein that enters your lymphatics or bloodstream. Most "non self" compounds are not injected into your lymphatics or bloodstream and most of them are also not proteins. Your body is far far more likely to be allergic to proteins than other substances... how many people you heard of are allergic to air? And how many to bee stings (it's the proteins that they have the allergy to usually.) It has been theorised that the prescence of the proteins in bee stings may be a deliberate strategy on natures behalf to cull out avid bee hasslers due to the large proportion of people allergic to them. :S who knows? Anyway, you have about the same odds of being allergic to snake venom as cats, dogs, horses, whatever.... it's just that those allergies tend to be annoying, snake allergies can kill ya right quick.

sobrien · #37 06-Jul-04, 05:05 PM

Very interesting...

Robert · #38 07-Jul-04, 11:16 AM

Where are some of the best places and sources ppl have found venom information and good info on elapids.I can get so much from ppl who keep vens but would like to know a little more of the scientific side of things.

I am hoping to shortly get my Specialist Lic. and get some elapids(bring on the adders).I would like to find out as much as i can on venom breakdown and also reactions/symptoms b4 buying these animals for obvious reasons.

Fuscus · #39 07-Jul-04, 11:46 AM

C.S.L. put out a booklet on venom detection and treatment - A very good read. Their website http://www.csl.com.au/ is a bit difficult. Click on Animal Health to get to the antivenneme section.
Sdaji - in the mentioned booklet they do refere to bad reactions to the antivemon and seem to take it very seriously.

peterescue · #40 07-Jul-04, 04:11 PM

it is good, i only got a phamphlet though.

Hix · #41 07-Jul-04, 09:27 PM

Struan Sutherland wrote a brilliant book called "Australian Animal Toxins". The original came out in 1983, but was updated a couple of years ago. Looks at all the toxins of the venomous snakes, spiders, wasps, bees, ants, jellyfish, platypus and fishes. Details of the venom actions, breakdown of the compounds, case studies, photos - the lot. More a medical book but with lots of information on venoms and toxins, if you're interested in that sort of stuff.

Plus the odd trivial titbit. Like: Before the reduction in outdoor dunnies in 1961, 21.9% of Redback spider bites were on the buttocks or penis.

Hix.

earthmother · #42 09-Jul-04, 12:46 AM

It's coming up to an Anniversary.
I think this is a good read and it reminds me of the pioneering spirit that we're reknowned for.
We should all remember this boy for his amazing contribution to this country.

http://www.barefootbushman.com/budden.htm

bigguy · #43 09-Jul-04, 09:52 AM

Sdaji,

I personally have no knowledge of anyone being sticken by sucking on a snakebite site. There may well be many cases, but I have never heard of them. But all the same, why take the chance.

Drinking Rattlesnake venom could never be compared with Australian Elapids. Drop for drop our snakes can be hundreds of times more toxic. One drop of say Eastern Brown Snake venom can kill a few men. It can also be absorbed through the skin. I chanced sucking on the RBB bitesite as I knew they are not deadly, plus I had immediate access to water to flush my mouth out.

As for allergies to venoms and antivenoms, these are fairly common. Many people have died in the past from allergic reactions from antivenom as they were allergic to horses. The natives of PNG are a good example of this. These people have one of the highest allergic rates to horse serum than anyone else on the planet. As soon as the antivenom was administered, many went straight into shock and died. Today, people are closely monitored for allergic reactions, and if seen doses of Adrenelin, fermergin and steriods are given to overcome it.

I personally came close to dying with delayed serum sickness exactly one week after having antivenom. If I had taken another 10 or 15 minutes longer to get to hopital, than I would have died for sure. And I know of quite a few friends who have also suffered with this as well.