ABSTRACT
The history of snakebite treatment is a reflection of the state of knowledge, philosophy, and mythology of humankind through the ages. Rural people in underdeveloped countries (where most human and animal snakebite is likely to occur) frequently are poorly educated. Antivenin should be administered only in a medical facility with appropriately trained medical personnel having emergency drugs and life-support equipment available. Antivenin is the only specific therapy for snakebite, yet it is not a panacea. The effectiveness of some antivenins for venoms of certain groups of snakes is not precisely known. A victim may have an anaphylactoid reaction to either equine serum or other substances in the antivenin. Modern technology has eliminated many foreign substances from biologic products, but considerable proteinaceous material remains in antivenin. Snakebite may not be suspected by an owner, and, depending on the region and prevalence of snakebite in the area, the veterinarian may not consider snakebite initially.
