Venom by Brendan James Murray

Author:Brendan James Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: non-fiction, snake, deadly, taipan, venom, herpetology, poison, Australia, Queensland, Melbourne, Sydney, Mackay, Guugu Yimithirr, nguman, bush, science, scientist, cure, antivenom, Rockhampton, Serpent, George Rosendale, Bruce Stringer
ISBN: 9781760408893
Publisher: Echo Publishing
Published: 2017-07-11T06:09:19+00:00

Chapter 18

Pro scientia mori

By the time Budden arrived at Cairns Base Hospital at eleven o’clock, the emergency ward had been readied in preparation for a case of severe snakebite envenomation. Dozens of ampoules of tiger snake antivenom were laid out, as well as medications used to tackle conditions ranging from anaphylaxis to respiratory arrest. On duty was Dr Keith Benn. 1 In spite of the case of George Rosendale, it is unlikely the doctor was optimistic for the young man’s survival.

The ambulancemen wheeled a smiling, talkative Budden into the ward, closely followed by Jim Harris.

‘All his family’s down in New South Wales,’ the truck driver was saying. ‘He needs someone with him.’

Harris – who had met Budden less than an hour before – would stay by the young herpetologist’s side almost as diligently as the medical staff of the hospital. 2

After Dr Benn introduced himself and began examining the ligatures, Budden half-turned towards Harris.

‘Where’s your truck?’

‘It’s outside. Don’t worry, I parked it in the shade.’

‘Were the windows still down? They can overheat.’

‘Yeah, I left it just as it was.’

Budden seemed to relax a little. Dr Benn smiled. ‘Sounds like you’re more concerned about the snake than yourself.’

‘I’m not worried about myself.’ With his wide grin and laughing indifference, Budden was hard not to believe. ‘More people die from shock than snakebite.’

‘You might be onto something, Mr Budden.’

‘Call me Kevin.’

The ligatures were well secured and didn’t need replacing. Dr Benn took Budden’s left hand in his own and examined it. There were two puncture wounds to the fleshy part of the palm, with a pair of fainter puncture wounds running parallel to one another laterally. These, the doctor knew, were made by the teeth immediately behind the snake’s fangs.

‘Why didn’t you scarify, Kevin?’

Budden shook his head. ‘It’s pointless. You do more damage that way than what the snake does. Plus, I really think more people die from fright.’

Dr Benn nodded. ‘Perhaps, but it is protocol.’ He checked for a pulse on Budden’s left wrist but could detect none, due to the ligatures. ‘We shan’t worry about it now, anyway. It’s been too long since the bite.’

Harris asked him how he was feeling.

‘Perfect.’

Counting the pulse at the right wrist, Dr Benn found Budden’s heart rate to be a little over ninety per minute – normal. There was no evidence yet of anything amiss.

‘Any existing medical conditions, Kevin?’

‘Just hay fever.’

‘Right.’ The doctor removed his glasses and placed them into the breast pocket of his white coat. ‘I’m sure you know all about the treatment of snakebite, Kevin?’

‘Sure.’

‘Well, I’m going to put you on an IV drip with 4500 units of tiger snake antivenom. You’re fine now, but if any venom’s been injected we need to counter it. I’m worried about neurotoxic factors and coagulation of blood. We’ll give you antihistamines to help you cope with the horse serum.

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