AGAD TANTRA by Dr. SATISH SHINDADKAR (sites to read books for free .TXT) 📕

अंजन, तीक्ष्ण शस्त्राने मस्तकावर काकपद छेदन

 आचूषण निष्पिडन करण्यासाठी उत्तम

 नस्यचा उपयोग होतो.

अतिश्रम, मैथुन, दिवास्वाप, रात्रौ जागरण इ. वर्ज्य करावेत.

Snakes

Snakes are divided into two types- poisonous and non-poisonous.
Of the over 2950 species of snakes in the world, about 200 are found in India and 15.25 % of the total number of the snake species are venomous. These range from the worm snakes having a length of about 10 cms to those more than 6 mts. long. They live in almost all surroundings from the warm seas to semi-deserts, and lakes and even in the Himalaya up to an elevation of about 5000 mts. some main species of Indian snakes described below . . .  

Indian Spectacled Cobra: A medium to large-sized snake found all over India up to an elevation of about 4000 mts. They feed on frogs, toads, rodents, birds and small snakes.

Indian Monocled Cobra: A medium-sized snake found in northeast India, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. They are mainly nocturnal in habit.

King Cobra(Ophiophagus hannah): A large-sized snake that may be up to 5 mts. or more in length.

Russell's viper (Vipera russelli): A medium to large-sized snake with a characteristic bright pattern on its body. Found all over India.

Saw-scaled Viper(Echis carinatus): A small-sized snake found all over India, usually in the plains.

Common Krait(Bungarus caeruleus): A medium-sized snake with thin white bands on its body and nocturnal in habit. Found almost all over India.

Banded Krait(Bungarus fasciatus): A medium to large-sized snake with prominent yellow and black bands on its body. Found all over India up to an elevation of 1500 mts.

Sea Snake(Enhydrina schistosa): A medium-sized snake with a flattened body and tail. Found along the coast and coastal islands.

Green Keelback (Macropisthodon plumbicolor) : A medium-sized keel scaled snake found in the forested region of India up to an elevation of 1500mts.

Checkered Keelback Water snake (Xenochropis piscator) : A medium-sized keeled snake found all over India up to an elevation of about 3000mts.

Olive Keelback Water snake (Altritium schistosum) : A small to medium-sized snake found in India up to an elevation about 1000 mts. 

Trinket Snake (Elaphe halena): A medium-sized, slim snake found all over India up to an elevation of about 4000 mts.

Rat Snake (Ptyas muscosus): A large-scaled,rat-eaters snake found all over India up to an elevation of about 4000 mts. It is capable of adapting to almost any environment.

Banded Racer(Argyrogena fasicolatus): A small to medium-sized snake found in the plains of India. It prefers to live amongst tall grass and greeneries. 

Royal Snake (Spalerosophis diadema): A medium to large-sized snake found in the drier tracts up to an elevation of 2000 mts. 

Bronze-back Tree Snake(Dendrelaphis tristis): A medium-sized slim snake found all over India. They prefer shortened grass and thorny trees. 

Flying Snake(Chrysopelea ornata): A small to medium-sized snake found in the forest. They prefer to live on large trees and float for some distance. 

Vine Snake(Ahaetulla nasutus): A medium to large-sized snake found all over India, at elevation of about 2500 mts. preferring low bushes and trees.

Common Cat Snake(Boiga trigonata): A small to medium-sized snake found all over India up to an elevation of 3000 mts.They are nocturnal in habit and prefer to spend the daylight hours in a cool place.

Dog-faced Watersnake(Cerberus rhynchops): A medium-sized snake found in the coastal tracts. They live in muddy and rocky areas.

Common Wolf Snake(Lycodon aulicus): A small slender snake found throughout India. In the hills, it occurs at an elevation of about 2000 mts.

Banded Kukri(Oligodon arnesis): A small snake with prominent cross bands on its body. Found all over India and up to an elevation of 200 mts.

Sleder Coral Snake(Callophis melanurus) : A small slim snake found in most parts of India up to an Elevation of 1500 mts. 

Common Worm Snake(Typhlina bramina) : A small worm-like snake found all over India. In the hills, it lives up to an elevation of 1000 mts. 

Perrotet's Shield-tail Snake(Plectrurus perroteti) : A small snake found in the hills along the west coast of India.

Indian Rock Python(Python molurus) : A large thick snake found in many parts of India up to an elevation of about 2000 mts.

Stripped Keelback (Amaphiesma stalata) : A small to medium-sized snake that is closely related to and resembles the water snake. Found all over India and up to an elevation of 2000 mts. in the hill.

Common Sand Boa (Eryx conicus) : A short thick-bodied snake found in the plains and low hills of India. They are nocturnal and hunt after dark. 

Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) : A medium-sized snake with a very blunt tail. It is found in the drier tracts of the country.

Bamboo Pit Viper(Trmeresurus gramineus) : A small-sized snake with a triangular head. It prefers cold and mostly found in bamboos and other dense foliage.

Venom

Poison of animal origin, usually restricted to poisons that are administered by biting or stinging and used to capture and, sometimes, aid in digesting prey, or for defence. Thus the poisons secreted by the skin of some toads, or accumulated in the bodies of numerous inedible animals, are ordinarily not considered venoms.

The most familiar venomous animals are certain snakes, insects and spiders. Venomous species occur throughout the animal kingdom, however, including the mammals.

Some have venomous saliva, and the platypus bears poison branches on its hind legs. The severity of venom’s effects depends on several factors, such as its chemical nature, the stinging or biting mechanism involved, the amount of venom delivered, and the size and condition of the victim. For example, all spiders are venomous, but the venoms of most are too weak or minute in quantity to have noticeable effects on humans; in addition, many spiders cannot even puncture human skin.

          Venoms can be broadly categorized as hemotoxic or neurotoxic.

No.

 Features

 Poisonous snake

 Non-poisonous snake

1

 Body

Stout, dull coloured and abruptly tapering tail

 Slender body, bright coloured, gradually tapering tail

 2

 Tail

Flattened or rounded

  Always rounded

 3

 Belly scales

Broad

  Small and do not extend across the entire width

 4

  Head

Mostly triangular in shape

  Mostly oval or rounded

 5

  Head scales

Mostly small

  Mostly large

 6

  Fangs (Teeth)

Fangs are present. May be grooved or channelized

  Fangs missing. All teeth are small in size

 7

  Saliva

Toxic

  Non-toxic

The effects of insect stings are usually the result of histamines that produce local irritation and swelling. Serums against various venoms can be produced by injecting animals such as horses with sub lethal doses and extracting the immune serum, or antivenin, that the animal body produces. Venoms themselves have occasional medicinal uses; for example, some are used as painkillers in cases of arthritis or cancer, and some serve as coagulants for people with haemophilia.

Differences between poisonous and non-poisonous snake

Non Poisonous Snakes

Poisonous Snakes

Head - Rounded
Fangs - Not present
Pupils - Rounded
Anal Plate - Double row of plates
Bite Mark - Row of small teeth.

Head - Triangle - except Cobra
Fangs - Present
Pupils - Elliptical pupil
Anal Plate - Single row of plates
Bite Mark - Fang Mark

Snake bite :
There are two types of snake bite:

Dry bites – where the snake releases no venom

Venomous bites – where the snake releases venom

The effects of venomous bites may be more severe in children as they are smaller. 

Observed Bite Marks Variations:

Poisonous

 Non-Poisonous

Two fang marks only with or without oedema

Two Fang marks + other multiple teeth marks + oedema

Single mark only with or without oedema

Only abrasion

Two abrasions with or without oedema

Only ecchymosis patch

Local blood oozing

No marks seen

 

Multiple teeth mark

Single mark

Only abrasion

Multiple abrasions

Dry bites

Typical symptoms of a dry bite include:

Mild pain at the site of the bite caused by the snake’s fangs, anxiety

If there are no other symptoms, such as swelling, it is probably a dry bite. This is because signs that venom has been injected might not appear until later, up to two hours or more after the bite.

Venomous snake bites:

Symptoms of snake bite where venom is injected include:

Severe pain at the location of the bite, swelling, redness and bruising at the location of the bite, nausea, feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, itchy lumps on the skin, swelling of the lips - tongue and gums, breathing difficulties with wheezing similar to asthma, mental confusion, dizziness or fainting, Irregular heartbeat, dizziness, mental confusion, faintness, collapse and shock, bleeding from the mouth, nose and wounds, vomiting blood or passing blood in urine or stools, muscle paralysis, which can lead to breathing difficulties.

In the most severe cases, a venomous snake bite may cause:

Paralysis, starting with drooping of the upper eyelids and progressing to an inability to breathe or move, shock and loss of consciousness, kidney failure with little or no urine being passed, massive blood loss, due to bleeding from the mouth, nose and wounds, vomiting blood and passing blood in urine or stools, death

Anaphylaxis :

In some people, a snake bite can trigger a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. This can occur immediately after a bite or several hours later.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

Swollen face – lips - tongue and throat, swelling in the throat that can cause breathing difficulties, rapid heartbeat, and itchy skin.

Anaphylaxis can also cause a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to shock and cause symptoms such as, Dizziness or mental confusion, faintness, loss of consciousness or collapsing, cold and clammy skin, blindness.

Factors Affecting Snake Bite :

Site: - Bites are more common in lower & upper limbs, bites closer to brain are more dangerous.

Occupation: - Bites are more common in Farmers & Labourers.

Time of bite: - Nocturnal bites are serious. Cobra: - Morning and evening, Krait: - Night, Vipers: - day & night hours.

Size of the snake: - New born snakes are equally dangerous like adults.

Condition of the snake: - If recently casted severe envenoming.

Type of fangs: - More venom is injected in vipers.

Size of the pt.:- Severe envenoming in children due to less body surface area.

Clothes, shoes: - Less envenoming.

Sleep: - Slow envenoming.

Primary aids: - If received less mortality & if not high mortality.

Time since bite: - If delayed admission high mortality.

***

Snake venom

There are four main types of snake venom toxins:

Haemotoxins – attack the circulatory system (heart and blood)

Neurotoxins – attack the nervous system where nerves connect to muscles

Cytotoxins – cause blood and plasma (the clear fluid in blood) to leak into the tissue near the bite, and eventually destroy it

Myotoxins – destroy muscle tissue both at the site of the bite and generally throughout the body.

Cobra, King Cobra, common krait, banded krait mainly neurotoxic.

Russell’s viper, Saw-scaled viper mainly haemotoxic.

Sea snakes Myotoxic

More detail below:

Neurotoxic Venom: 

Signs and Symptoms: It is important to note that not all neurotoxic venoms are considered life threatening. Neurotoxic venom is fast acting and is rapidly absorbed, attacking the central nervous system. By attacking the nervous system, the nerves that control breathing are paralysed and death is caused by respiratory failure.
The effects of a neurological bite usually manifest themselves within minutes after a bite due to the small molecular weight of the proteins being transported and absorbed rapidly by the body. The victim experiences progressive weakness.

Death usually results between 5-15 hours, in severe envenomation, death may occur in an hour. The majority of neurotoxic snakes usually belong to the family Elapidae. 

Immediate symptoms of a Neurotoxic venom:

A pins and needles sensation occurring at the bite site. This sensation usually spreads rapidly throughout the body, usually within 2-5 minutes after a bite.

There may be minimal swelling around the bite site. Generally however this swelling does not progress further, and is usually restricted to the bite area.

The bite itself is generally not painful, unlike cytotoxic venoms. 

Other signs and symptoms of a neurotoxic venom:

As with a cytotoxic bite fang marks are usually a good indication of a potential envenomation. This could either be puncture marks at the site, or a scratch.

A slight discolouration may be present due to the intra-tissue haemorrhage.

The pins and needles sensation manifests itself shortly after envenomation, and depending on the severity of the bite, spreads rapidly throughout the body.

Although the bite itself is generally not painful, the victim usually experiences abdominal and muscle pain.

Drowsiness, Drooping eyelids (Ptosis), Paralysis of neck muscles, Abdominal pain, Speech becomes affected usually within 20 minutes after a bite. Nausea and vomiting, Difficulty in swallowing (Dysphagia), increased salivation, increased sweating, muscle tremors, Mydriasis (dilated pupils), Hallucination and confusion, Low blood pressure (Hypotension).

Tachycardia (increased heart rate), or Brachycardia (decreased heart rate).

Flaccid paralysis, Chest tightness, Respiratory distress, Respiratory muscle paralysis, restlessness, Loss of control over bodily functions, Coma, Death.

Haemotoxins:

Haemotoxins destroy red, oxygen-carrying blood cells, and disrupt the blood's ability to clot. They can also cause a drop in blood pressure, which can result in tissue and organ damage, loss of consciousness and death.

Cytotoxins:

Cytotoxins cause swelling, bruising, blistering and gangrene (death of tissue