The circumstances surrounding a bite by a swamp rattlesnake on the finger of the author are recorded. The symptoms and the treatment are described, and the possibility that other field workers might be bitten is discussed

Dodge, Christopher H.

Folk, G. Edgar, Jr.

University of Northern Iowa

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science Volume 67 Annual Issue Article 79 1960 A Case of Rattlesnake Poisoning in Iowa With a Description of Early Symptoms Christopher H. Dodge G. Edgar Folk Jr. State University of Iowa Let us know how access to this document benefits you Copyright ©1960 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias Recommended Citation Dodge, Christopher H. and Folk, G. Edgar Jr. (1960) "A Case of Rattlesnake Poisoning in Iowa With a Description of Early Symptoms," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 67(1), 622-624. Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol67/iss1/79 This Research is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa Academy of Science at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science by an authorized editor of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uni.edu. A Case of Rattlesnake Poisoning in Iowa With a Description of Early Symptoms CHRISTOPHER H. DoDGEl and G. EDGAR FoLK, }R.2 Abstract. The circumstances surrounding a bite by a swamp rattlesnake on the finger of the author are recorded. The symp-toms and the treatment are described, and the possibility that other field workers might be bitten is discussed. The .senior author was bitten by a swamp rattlesnake (massa-sauga) on April 2 2, 1960. It seems desirable to record the circum-stances, the symptoms, and the treatment, and to consider the possi-bility that other field workers in the state of Iowa might also be bitten. The incident occurred while the author was collecting in a prairie marsh three miles east of Nichols, Iowa, in Muscatine County. He sat down to rest on a log, beside which the rattlesnake was coiled. When the writer rested his hand at his side, it apparently touched the snake which struck the forefinger of the right hand above the nail. Only one fang pierced the skin. The snake was identified by sight as an Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus La-treill) by its small size (approximately 18 inches), tapering rattles, and spotted appearance. The writer attempted to treat the finger and walked two miles to a farmhouse from where he was taken to a doctor and then to the University Hospitals in Iowa City. After two days of treatment for the effects of the bite and possible infection, he was released. EARLY SYMPTOMS The fang of the snake, piercing the relatively tough skin of the forefinger, caused sharp pain. Immediate but very limited bleeding and swelling occurred within 30 seconds. Rapid swelling of the en-tire finger and two proximal knuckles of the hand was noticeable after about two minutes. Within five minutes, an area of blue dis-coloration could be seen around the wound. Because other field workers may experince a bite of this sort with-out seeing the snake, the symptoms are now described. The effects of the bite differed from the effcts of the sting of a bee or hornet as follows: (a) the local effect of the snake bite on the finger was very lThe author is a recognized herpetologist who has published descriptions of two new species for the checklist of Iowa reptiles. 2Department of Physiology, State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. 622 1Dodge and Folk: A Case of Rattlesnake Poisoning in Iowa With a Description of EarPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19601960] RATTLESNAKE POISONING 623 rapid; (b) the size of the wound was large enough to cause limited bleeding; (c) a distinct musty odor from the venom was evident. Faintness, nausea, cold sweat, and tremor may accompany the symp-toms mentioned above (La Pointe 1953). In this case the author did not experience these symptoms, partly because the amount of venom was limited since only one fang pierced the skin. Also he remained calm, in part because as a herpetologist he knew that there have been no fatalities from this species (Klauber, 1956). STEPS TAKEN IN THE FIELD Very soon after being bitten, the author enlarged the small fang wound with his teeth. This was followed by extensive oral suction and the application of a moderately tight tourniquet around the upper arm. The tightness of the tourniquet was tested by finger insertion to insure that venous return had not been entirely blocked. Before starting the two mile walk, a five minute rest was taken. In the course of the two mile walk he took two additional five minute rests. STEPS TAKEN IN THE HOSPITAL In the hospital the tissue in the immediate area of the bite was excised. Approximately 15 ml. of fluid containing antivenin were injected in three places: into the open wound, in the region of the knuckle of the hand, and later, in a circle in the upper part of the arm where the first tourniquet had been applied. Tetanus antitoxin also was injected. lmmobolization of the arm followed this treat-ment, coupled with antibiotic injections for a period of two days. Additional antibiotic treatment was administered for a week follow-ing the writer's release from the hospital. MORE DESIRABLE FIRST Am STEPS To BE TAKEN FOLLOWING AN EXTREMITY RATTLESNAKE BITE Most rattlesnake bites are received in an extremity, most com-monly in the region of the ankle, knee, hand, or arm. The most de-sirable treatment to be taken in the field in cases where a snake-bite kit is not available is described by Shannon ( 19 5 7). The first step should be the application of a tourniquet as close to the wound as possible. Care should be taken not to effect complete circulatory occlusion, but rather to impair the flow of subcutaneous lymph from the region of the wound. Incisions into the site of an extremity bite should be rigorously avoided, as should the immersion of the effected limb in extremely cold water. These procedures may increase the possibility of gangrene. Excision of envenomized tissue should be made only by a qualified physician in the case of extremity bites. 2Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 67 [1960], No. 1, Art. 79https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol67/iss1/79624 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE [Vol. 67 All victims of rattlesnake bite should be hospitalized as quickly as possible following infliction. SPIC/ES HABITAT DISTHIBUTION TIMBER RATTLESNAKE Wooded rocky bluffs Crotalus horridus horridus MASSASAUGA Prairie marshes Sistrurus catenatus Swamps catenatus also, dry wood lands PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE Open fields D Crotalus viridis Rocky bluffs vi rid is COPPERHEAD (Northern) Open fields D Agkistrodon contortrix Rocky wooded mokeson hillsides Figure 1. The habitat and distribution of poisonous snakes in Iowa (modified from Conant, 1958). THE POSSIBILITY OF RATTLESNAKE BITE IN loWA As far as the authors can determine there has been no other case of poisonous snake bite recorded for Iowa. This is surpris-ing since four poisonous species occur in the state (Figure 1). In one southern area all but one of the species are found. The number of bounties given are an index to abundance: in 1956 the state issued bounties for 224 rattlesnakes (Iowa Conservationist, 19 5 7). Perhaps the absence of bites is because the populations of Iowa poisonous snakes are localized and well-known and are thus avoided by people seeking recreation. Literature Cited Anonymus. 1957. Iowa Bounty Summary. Iowa Conservationist, 16:129. Conant, R. A. 1958. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, p. 366. Klauber, L. M. 1956. Rattlesnakes. Univ. of· California Press, Volume II, p. 389. LaPointe, J. 1953. Case report of a bite from the massasauga. Copeia, No. 2: 128-129. Shannon, F. A. 1957. Treatment of envenomization by animals in Arizona. Arizona Medicine, 14:136-142. 3Dodge and Folk: A Case of Rattlesnake Poisoning in Iowa With a Description of EarPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 1960

A Case of Rattlesnake Poisoning in Iowa With a Description of Early Symptoms

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A Case of Rattlesnake Poisoning in Iowa With a Description of Early Symptoms

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