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Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl · Chapter
Endnotes explained
The endnotes provide editorial commentary on the text, including a note about snake venom antidotes used by Indigenous peoples and white laborers.
What happens
The endnotes provide editorial commentary on the text, including a note about snake venom antidotes used by Indigenous peoples and white laborers.
Key passages
“The poison of a snake is a powerful acid, and is counteracted by powerful alkalies, such as potash, ammonia, etc. The Indians are accustomed to apply wet ashes, or plunge the limb into strong lye. White men, employed to lay out railroads in snaky places, often carry ammonia with them as an antidote. —Editor”
Snake venom is acidic and can be neutralized by alkaline substances like potash or ammonia; Indigenous people traditionally use wet ashes or lye, while white railroad workers carry ammonia as a remedy.
Editorial note on snakebite remedies