[Electric shock treatment of poisoning caused by animal venoms]

Poisoning through sting or bite by venomous animals constitutes a medical emergency which is potentially fatal and not easy to resolve. In this work the Authors describe the electric shock treatment (EST) to cure poisoning by animal venoms; such method has now been used for some years for this purpose in different parts of the world (Guderian et al., 1986). The Authors describe the suitability, the effectiveness of the method, the source and the type of electric current to apply; they give usage instructions and probable theory on its working mechanism: although the latter requires a more detailed and rigorous study. They wish for the usage of EST for this purpose to spread in Italy too, although fatal poisoning is rare here, and are devising a portable instrument with the right requirements.