circulation by bandages, incised the wound, cut out the
snake fang, exploded gun powder on the leg, and sucked
the wound, ammonia was applied, and brandy
administered; water had also been freely used on his
head. Twice between 10 and 12 o'clock his life was
despaired of. When I arrived there was no pulse
perceptible, and the boy was unconscious.’ About 40
onlookers had gathered so the doctor enlisted 18 men to
take part in the following treatment, which lasted for six
hours! ‘Five men continually jumped and walked the lad
about. He was unconscious and had lost his muscular
power. The same treatment was used, two gallons of
and for how long, the treating physician sent for a
galvanic battery, and the boy was wakened with an
electric shock after exactly half an hour. 67 Young Hines
apparently recovered.
This case also demonstrates the uncertainty surrounding
snake identification during the colonial period. Because
of extensive variation in colour, particularly amongst
Tiger Snakes, 60 and the use of interchangeable common
names, it is often unclear as to the species in question.
Early newspapers are full of editorial debates on the
topic, and it was not widely accepted until the 1930s that
W ater was poured from a height of 12 feet over his
head, ammonia every five minutes to the nostrils, severe
beatings on the back and the arms nettled....
water poured from a height of 12 feet over his head and
neck every five minutes, ammonia every five minutes to
the nostrils, severe beatings on the back (worthy to be
remembered), the arms nettled, and ammonia rubbed in
also on the spine. At 3 o'clock we looked hopelessly on
him; he was inanimate, and the heart’s action almost
suspended. I told the men all depended on their exertions
and they were redoubled. At this stage a mustard plaister
was applied along the whole spine, and the feet placed in
hot water and mustard, this appeared to be the turning
point - he evidently rallied; at about 5 o'clock he knew
his mother, and recognised his friends.’ But the patient’s
ordeal was not over yet. Fearful whether to let him sleep
only three variable species occurred in the state - the
Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus), the Lowlands
Copperhead (Austrelaps superbus) and the White-lipped
Snake (Drysdalia coronoides). In 1930 Herbert Hedley
Scott, Curator of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art
Gallery in Launceston, appears to have lost patience with
the endless debate about snake identity and wrote a long
letter to the editor of the Examiner in which he supplies a
useful list of all the common names that had been
employed in the state. 68 Tiger Snakes were called
‘brown-banded snakes’, ‘black snakes’ and ‘carpet
snakes’. Copperheads were called ‘superb snakes’,
‘copper snakes’, ‘diamond snakes’, ‘large-scaled snakes’