There had been a lot of anetodal experience with using Vitamin C in mega-doses for snake bites and all type of other toxic venoms. It started with an American MD, Dr. Klenner who writes:
'As an example of the lethal effect of certain stings and bites, I briefly relate a case history. An adult male came to my office complaining of severe chest pain and the inability to take a deep breath. Stated that he had been "stung" or "bitten" 10 minutes earlier. Thinking that it was a Black Widow and not bothering to look for fang marks, due to the gravity of the situation, I gave one gram calcium gluconate intravenously. This gave no relief. He begged for help saying he was dying. He was becoming cyanotic [blue or livid skin from lack of oxygen]. Twelve grams of vitamin C was quickly pulled into a 50 c.c. syringe and with a 20 gauge needle was given intravenously as fast as the plunger could be pushed. Even before the injection was completed, he exclaimed, "Thank God". The poison had been neutralized that rapidly. He was sent home to locate the "culprit". He soon returned with an object that looked like a mouse. It was 1 1/2 inches long with long brown hair. There was a dark ridge down the entire back. It had seven pairs of propelling units and a tail much like a mouse. The following day I took "The Thing" to Duke University where it was identified as the Puss Caterpillar. This unusual caterpillar left 44 red raised marks on the back of its victim. Except for vitamin C this individual would have died from shock and asphyxiation.'
There has been much use of Vitamin C injectable in Australia where there are many venomous snakes and bites are common in livestock and man. Here is an interesting article by pat colby:
Early in 1930, an American, Dr Klenner, did much research on the use of
Vitamin C on humans (extensive article on Vitamin C by Dr Klennner here
_http://www.nutri.com/wn/klenner.html_ (www.nutri.com/wn/klenner.html)
).
In turn a Californian Vet, Dr Wendell Bellfield, carried on the good work
with impressive results on all sorts of dog ailments that are generally
considered incurable or fatal. Today, in USA, there are now a significant
number if Vets practicing alternative Medicine such as this.
After studying the literature, I (Pat Coleby - is a farmer who writes
books on animal care and lectures widely on the subject as well as being a
consultant.) decided that I really had nothing to lose trying Vitamin C on my
own farm animals. The first one was a pony, almost moribund, whose blood was
later diagnosed as having the largest amount of Tiger Snake venom the Vet
had ever seen in an animal. Within 24 hours of being unable to move, and
also having considerable difficulty in breathing due to pneumonia, the pony
was grazing happily in its owners garden, apparently quite healthy. I only
had one 30ml bottle of Vitamin C, half of what I would have liked, so I put
half of the bottle into each side of the neck by intramuscular injection.
After that we treated sundry dogs, two cats and several goats including a
stud buck. All recovered. A very valuable Alpaca which was being watched by
its owner from her kitchen window went down to the dam to examine
something. The owner, horrified, watched a large snake rise up and strike it on
the
nose - the worst place - and thanked her lucky stars the Vitamin C was in
the fridge - not still on the shopping list. Rushing out with only 15 mls in
the syringe - she injected the Alpaca before any symptoms arose. The snake
had looked like a brown or a tiger, the result - happy ending.
The great advantage of Vitamin C is that anaphylaxis does not occur and
the variety of snake does not matter. Vitamin C is cheap, easy to store and
taking it on a hunting trip is no problem. All you need is a 20 ml syringe,
some largish needles - say No 18 - and the bottle of Vitamin C. It can all
be carried in a small wallet on ones belt. In between times it should be
kept in the fridge. Although the stuff can be carried in Summer without
deteriorating, I suggest to hunters that they get a fresh supply each Spring
just to be on the safe side.
After much reading of printouts of Bellfield's and other literature, many
supplied by Dr Glen Dettman, a retired pathologist who lives near
Melbourne, I have tried Vitamin C on many situations. A dog in a tick coma,
spider
bites, dogs with Parvo, Tetanus following a terrible injury from a car, and
in cases of shock - all with unfailing success.
Vitamin C can be used as crushed tablets or powder straight into the mouth
in cases of sickness. From my own experience, rubbing the powder into a
redback spider bite took the pain (which is incredible) our within seconds. I
followed it up with 10 grams by mouth. The spread of the poison in my arm
stopped and I was able to resume work within a few minutes.
The first goat I treated with Vitamin C was given a teaspoon of ascorbic
acid powder (about 5 grams) every half hour for two hours, like the Alpaca,
he was bitten right on the nose as I later found out. He recovered
perfectly well. That was in the days before the injectable supplies were
available.
50 ml bottles of Vitamin C can be obtained from some Chemists, most fodder
or pet stores. Make sure the brand is 2 mls per gram and not 4 otherwise
you need twice as much at twice the cost. I mentioned the size of the needles
as 18 or thereabouts because the stuff can be slightly glutinous and speed
is generally all important on the occasions when it is needed.
Snake venom affects the nervous system which slows down until natural
functions cease and death occurs. A painful way to die. It can cause instant
death but this is most unusual and I have never seen it. When a dog has been
bitten, its eyes will soon appear to look all black. That is the pupils
have relaxed and dilated. Since snake bite can - and usually does - occur
unwitnessed, if your dog slows down and becomes lethargic or distressed, do
look
at the eyes at once and even if they do not show much sign get on with the
injection. If by chance the fang marks are detected, (it is usually damp
around the bite) rub in Vit C. Even a chewed up tablet will work. But do not
waste time looking for the marks. They often only show up a few days later
when the hair falls away around them.
Dogs of 30 to 50 kg will require about 10 - 15 mls* by intramuscular
injection in the side of the neck. It was taught by the teaching Vet at the
Veterinary College to avoid doing injections in the back legs because it is
too
easy to damage vital nerves there. Three quarters to 1 cm penetration is
needed, and, if in doubt, get it under the skin anyway. You can repeat the
treatment without risk. Vitamin C overdose results in nothing worse than
diarrhoea, and anaphylaxis cannot occur. However when the dog is really sick it
will allow you to do the injecting (which can sting in small animals)
without objecting. If it starts to make a fuss you know that it is feeling
much
better, and the subsequent doses should be given as powder in the mouth.
It is a good idea to give two or three backups just to make sure all the
venom has been detoxified.
