Augustus Mueller was a medical practitioner in Yackandandah and District who was convinced of the efficacy of strychnine as an antidote for snakebite. He believed that small doses of strychnine would stimulate the nervous system while being insufficient to cause the death of the patient by poisoning. The patent for his antidote was granted on May 10th 1891. His treatment gained some acceptance in the general community but was widely condemned in the medical profession. Dr Mueller investigated treatments for typhoid following a local outbreak in Beechworth, Victoria. He also received several prizes for his work as a vigneron. Dr Mueller died in Yackandandah, Victoria on 31st December 1898. The instructions included the following information:- "Inject now only half a syringe full, or, if the patient objects to the needle, let him take ten drops of the antidote in a little cold water every half-hour, until he or she feels a little stiffness about the jaws, slight pain in the back of the neck, and jerking of arms and legs on moving them. These are the effects of the antidote. They are quite harmless, and must be produced to ensure the safety of the patient".This item is significant because it was A leather case embossed with gold embossed writing. It contains items as part of a snake bite kit and detailed instructions for its use.On lid DR. MUELLER'S ANTIDOTE FOR SNAKE BITE WITH HYPODERMIC SYRINGE & DIRECTIONS FOR USE. PREPARED BY M. S. ROME YACKANDANDAH.snake antidotes, doctor augustus mueller, northeast victoria identities

Liquor ammonie was an antidote for snake bites in the late 19th century. George Halford, a medical professor at Melbourne University promoted ammonia injections to stimulate the heart and reinvigorate the blood. Inspired by experiments in dogs, his suggestion to intravenously dose snakebitten patients with an acknowledged poison was certainly controversial. The prevailing treatments, for doctors and laity, were ligature, cutting and sucking the wound, rest (or vigorous exercise), and prodigious quantities of alcohol. Support for ‘Halford’s injection’ nevertheless grew: Victorian doctors, chemists and citizens extolled its effectiveness in both human and animal patients. (Info. from Spectacular serpents: Snakebite in colonial Australia)This item is a useful research tool.A one sheet tabular list of cases of snake bite treated by the injection of liquor ammonie. There are pinholes in each corner.on front - Harry Richardsonsnake-bite australian-medical-journal halford-george

Prior to the first antivenom development in Australia, many of the snake men had a vast array of snakebite remedies they either used for themselves in the case of bites or pedaled to the public. Treatments such as ammonia, strychnine, chlorinated lime, potassium permanganate, suction caps, alcohol, gunpowder, petrol, toad urine, iodide swabs and pig face plant juice were some that were used and sold. The first antivenom produced in Australia was in 1930 for tiger snake bites. Subsequently, in response to public pressure, other antivenoms were produced. Taipan, 1955; Brown snake, 1956; Death Adder, 1958; Papuan black snake, 1959; Sea snake, 1961; and the polyvalent, 1962.Black box with hinged opening and gold leaf printed text on the top. Inside the box is lined with blue satin and velvet, and contains one (1) syringe with glass chamber and metal plunger and black rubber stopper, one (1) glass bottle with a label stating it contains chloride of lime, one (1) glass bottle with a label stating it contains pure alcohol and two (2) needles with metal connectors, one of which is broken. There is also a small wooden block with a groove in the top of it.Gold lettering on top of box: CHLORIDE OF LIME ANTIDOTE / FOR / SNAKE BITE / FELTON GRIMWADE & CO. / MELBOURNE.hydrochloride lime, alcohol, antidote, venom, snake bite