A few years back, there were a couple of articles that emerged concerning the use of stun guns or electric shock on venomous snake bites. Is there any further news or evaluation on this? I know we have more than a few doctors and PH's, has anybody got any information on this?

The experts say it works but we have not had the chance to test the one we have. However, the next candidate will be given the option of choice: zapper or anti venom and we should have an answer (hopefully it will be a long wait as I don't want to ill-wish this test on anyone).
There are more than one doctors on board and they should be able to tell us if individuals with a heart condition can be subjected to the zapper.
I know, if you get a full bite from a Mamba your chances of survival are pretty slim but why accelerate your departure from this world by using the wrong remedy?

I am guessing that the zapping is used to (1) denature the proteins of the toxin(s) and thus inactivate them, (2) denature/coagulate the proteins of the tissues at the bite site, such that the toxin is restricted from escape to the rest of the body. If this is true, the direct effect on the proteins would be HEAT.. I wonder whether there might be a narrow-focussed heat source that could be used. Surely, tissue damage at the wound site would result. And it would probably be permanent. But, maybe less of a risk to the patient than otherwise. Dunno.

I believe the theory is the electric current breaks up strings of protein and as venom is exactly that, the current renders the venom harmless.

I've never had any personal experience of this but there's plenty of people claim it works & if I remember correctly, Wally Johnson claimed to have used it successfully in the Zambezi Valley donkey's years ago.

I too, have read about electric shock treatment but little in the medical literature supports the treatment. The latest information I found in "UpToDate" (a medical knowledge resource) states:
Methods not recommended — Methods such as incision and oral suction, mechanical suction devices, cryotherapy, surgery, and electric shock therapy have been widely used, but are no longer recommended. As an example, a common misconception is that one should apply a tourniquet, suck out the poison, and spit it out. However, this approach is strongly discouraged, since it can damage nerves, tendons, and blood vessels and lead to infection [2,8,9]. Furthermore, venom removal by suction is minimal. This was illustrated in a study of mock venom extraction with a mechanical suction device in human volunteers; suction reduced the total body venom burden by only two percent [10].

Dude! As if getting bit by a snake wasn't enough now some of ya want to shock the guy afterward! Talk about hitting a guy when he's down

Ihave practiced veterinary medicine in South Texas since 1976. Over the past 10 years, we have treated an average of 47 snakebites a year. We tried electric shock therapy when it was first touted some 15 years ago and found it to be useless as well as stressful to our patients.Antivenin and IV fluids with supportive care is the treatment of choice. Watch where you step!

My doctor and vet friends said the same thing as bwana dogo. No quick fix I guess, other than make sure your wife walks in front of you at all times in snake country !!

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
The experts say it works but we have not had the chance to test the one we have. However, the next candidate will be given the option of choice: zapper or anti venom and we should have an answer (hopefully it will be a long wait as I don't want to ill-wish this test on anyone).
There are more than one doctors on board and they should be able to tell us if individuals with a heart condition can be subjected to the zapper.
I know, if you get a full bite from a Mamba your chances of survival are pretty slim but why accelerate your departure from this world by using the wrong remedy?

Fujo,

If it is someone you like...give them the antivenom.

There has never been any scientific evidence that the electric shock therapy worked...only testimonials.

There IS scientific evidence that it is unlikely to work.

Hell, Dave!
She's even more afraid of snakes than I am and I'm pretty sure that she would just knock me down and leave me for bait!

Has anyone tried Vitamin C ? As an addition to anti-venom. It's a strong detoxifier and I've personally seen great success with various bug bites.

quote:

Originally posted by mete:
Has anyone tried Vitamin C ? As an addition to anti-venom. It's a strong detoxifier and I've personally seen great success with various bug bites.

Yeah! I can picture an invenomated mamba victim chewing and swallowing a bag full of oranges. Sorry there Mete, it just came to mind.

quote:

Originally posted by mete:
Has anyone tried Vitamin C ? As an addition to anti-venom. It's a strong detoxifier and I've personally seen great success with various bug bites.

FORGET IT! AS A DOCTOR I CAN ASSURE THERE IS NOW DECENT EVIDENCE THAT IT EVEN WORKS HELPING WITH THE COMMON COLD VIRUS. there is a BIG difference between a mozzie bite and a mamba bite.

If I've just been bitten by a snake and some tit chooses that moment to tazer me I'm going to be pretty cross. Better make that first shock a big one!

Soooooo we want to know watt is the current thinking of someone who gets bitten by a snake and then tasered?

I'd expect they'd think wow, that really hertz and then volt into the truck and want to get ohm as quickly as possible.... I guess they may even ask themselves wire my here in the first place and probably even develop a resistance to ever going back to Africa at all.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Soooooo we want to know watt is the current thinking of someone who gets bitten by a snake and then tasered?

I'd expect they'd think wow, that really hertz and then volt into the truck and want to get ohm as quickly as possible.... I guess they may even ask themselves wire my here in the first place and probably even develop a resistance to ever going back to Africa at all.

Looks like that Portuguese red plonk gets you all wired-up.

It's electrifing stuff don'tchaknow!

Dave, maybe that's why my ex-wife refused to go to Africa with me.

Shakari, Boo, Hisss, but shockingly funny too.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Soooooo we want to know watt is the current thinking of someone who gets bitten by a snake and then tasered?

I'd expect they'd think wow, that really hertz and then volt into the truck and want to get ohm as quickly as possible.... I guess they may even ask themselves wire my here in the first place and probably even develop a resistance to ever going back to Africa at all.

Stunning reply, well said.

The only true fix for this is not to get bit in the first place!

quote:

Originally posted by Upton O. Good:

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Soooooo we want to know watt is the current thinking of someone who gets bitten by a snake and then tasered?

I'd expect they'd think wow, that really hertz and then volt into the truck and want to get ohm as quickly as possible.... I guess they may even ask themselves wire my here in the first place and probably even develop a resistance to ever going back to Africa at all.

Stunning reply, well said.

One might have said shocking reply

quote:

Soooooo we want to know watt is the current thinking of someone who gets bitten by a snake and then tasered?

The definition of a rather bad day.

I do not know if it works, hoping I never need to test it. I first read about this 15-20 or more years ago. The origin of the idea, per the article I read, was a priest at a mission in a remote area of Central or South America. Story was that as he had nothing else, pulled the plug wire on the generator set (or maybe the tractor) and arced the bite area on one of his human flock who had been bitten, and it worked. He used the technique a number of times with success and passed the "tip" on to others. Some bird dog folks carried some version of a tazer type thing, I seem to remember there was even a kit sold at one time. Occasionally you would read about this actually being used and working. Beats me, guess I would try it if there were no other options but death.

As good friend Greeff told me years ago upon seeing my first Mamba and asking what one would do if bitten by one, "Rush to camp and have him sign travelers cheques"

Many things work when done correctly, but in this case we don't seem to know what a correct shock would be.

I suppose some tests have been run somewhere and have taken venom and running an electric shock through it and seeing if it was still effective venom?

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Soooooo we want to know watt is the current thinking of someone who gets bitten by a snake and then tasered?

I'd expect they'd think wow, that really hertz and then volt into the truck and want to get ohm as quickly as possible.... I guess they may even ask themselves wire my here in the first place and probably even develop a resistance to ever going back to Africa at all.

How re-volting. What would induce anyone to charge ahead and energise someone on impulse like that??

Sorry!!
I had to do that.
I am an electrical engineer, and I just couldn't resist.

I'm using all my resistance to keep from replying to all of the static responses I received. Funny Guys. It was a serious question I was just curious about.

quote:

Wally Johnson claimed to have used it successfully in the Zambezi Valley donkey's years ago.

Didn't Wally Johnson survive his own mamba bite?

when i got bitten by a rattlesnake 4 years ago i did a bit of snakebite research while laying in bed in ICU. at least as far as rattlesnake bites go, about 30% of them are "dry"bites- i.e. no venom is injected. don't know if this applies to other snakes but it certainly makes anecdotal instances/evidence suspect as far as overall effectiveness.

Ain't no "dry" bite from a Mamba - in fact it has the capacity of injecting more or less depending on its reason for biting, i.e. likely to release less when striking its prey than when reacting in self defense or aggressive mode.

The last thing I want after getting bit by a snake is some ahole shocking the crap out of me. It reminds me of what Larry the Cable Guy says about taking care of his horse. "My horse broke his leg so I shot it.. Now it has a broken leg and a gunshot wound."

SDR
Just trying to get a little information, and as far as electric shock, electric shock, electric shock therapy, it ain't ain't ain't ain't that badddddddddd............
I personally hate electricity. I could go to the Home Depot and buy a brand new box of Romex, open it and grab both ends of the new wire and get shocked. But I hate snakes worse and if the shock therapy might help a little, might be worth it.