[Otto
Leeser]
In the
older classification the name "Viperidae" applies to all
Solenoglyphodonta, comprising all the "vipers“. The pitless vipers of
Europe, Africa and Asia would then have to be separated form the American pit
vipers or Crotalidae as "Viperinae“. (The "pit" present in the
Crotalidae and absent in the Viperinae is a cavity on each side of the head of
the snake, between the eye and the nostril). The genus Vipera represented by
Vip-b. and Vip-r.
The signs
and symptoms of persons bitten by a species of Vipera accord with the analytic finding
that proteolytic enzymes predominate in the venom. Interference with the
process of coagulation is marked, but it cannot be
stated in
terms of either promoting or inhibiting the clotting of blood, since that
depends on the concentration of the enzyme and possibly other circumstances,
and furthermore, the clots formed by the venom are not of the
same
structure and consistency as normal ones. A tendency to bleeding into the
tissues is conspicuous and indicates an enhanced permeability of the vessels
(veins) through lesions of their walls. The extensive extravasations
could
account for the jaundiced hue of skin and sclerae mentioned in some instances.
Hemolysis does not appear to play a prominent part, certainly there is no
evidence of the liver being particularly involved. Some paretic
and
paralytic signs are reported in cases of
Vipera bite, suggesting the presence of a neurotoxic component in the venom,
but this can be only of minor significance in view of the overwhelming
hemotoxic actions.
Very rapid
and strong reactions of the tissues around the site of the bite are to be
expected from this kind of venom. With Vipera the hardness of the intense and
fast-spreading swelling has been noted, pressure by a finger
makes
hardly any "pitting" impression.
The swelling is painful to touch. Discolored stripes follow the course of the
cutaneous veins, a tense bluish-red swelling causes pain as if it would burst.
Besides extensive ecchymoses,
spots of
purpura hemorrhagica may be seen. The systemic syndrome follows the pattern
known from other hemotoxic venoms: fall of blood pressure, fainting, rapid and
thread-like pulse, nausea, vomiting and frequent,
sometimes
bloody and involuntary stools, collapse, and in fatal cases, coma. Affects
blood stream. Albuminuria and hematuria, too, frequently seem to contribute to
grave exhaustion through the depletion of water and proteins in the circulating
fluids.
In the
absence of provings the homeopathic use of Vipera is restricted mainly to a
venous syndrome confirmed by clinical experience:
unbearable
pains in the extremities when they are hanging down, as though they were going
to burst; patient must keep the affected extremity in a raised position. In the
cases where the author used Vipera berus 12x with success the leg swelled
instantly and grew purple on hanging down, relief being felt in horizontal
position of the
leg and in
walking. One patient who showed the syndrome and the result of the medication
strikingly was a diabetic.
Chronic
cachexia after the bite of Viperia has been recorded and an annual recurrence
of local and systemic symptoms at the onset of hot weather and at the time of
the year when the bite occurred has been reported in too
many
instances to be wholly overlooked. It has to be seen whether this periodicity
can serve as a clue to the use of Vipera in chronic ailments.
Ambush
hunters - wait + pounce later/triangular heads/fangs = long + movable/striking
= as if stabbing
Strike +
hold for a while/strike once - leave the victim or hold it
Toxin -
haemotoxic - site of bite can be damaged with local necrosis since fangs go in
deeply - MORE LOCAL damage - go black/blue discoloration
Swelling +
cold veins - when legs hanging down
Have pits
to sense temperature of victim after kill/have more sense of supernatural than
Cobras
Move
sedentary but strike like lightening
come from a
stop position - but then really come at you/strike comes suddenly,
unexpectedly/hits + then moves away/don’t know it’s coming - hits you - more
mean than Elaps/from nowhere they can strike + get back/strike –
open jaws +
then strike - have to go deep
* From waiting position - then come in deep
+ then come back
* Have one go at a time… but this go is
enough to kill
* They have either a rattle or of tail
rubbing against leaves + coming in S shape
* Found beneath rocks or in rodent
burrows/found in coils under trees or in shades - sit with head out + look
* Not brightly coloured, zig zag patterns,
rhomboid band along the back - Diamond
shapes.
* Like darker colours
Blutgerinnung gehemmt ödem/Gewebszerstörung, Blutdruckabfall
Kopfschmerzen < morgens/Menses/Wetterwechsel; Bezug zur Halsregion: Globusgefühl und Räusperzwang, Konstriktions- und Würgegefühle, Empfindlich gegen Einengungen (Kleidung), Artikulationsschwierigkeiten bis
zum Stimmverlust etc.