[Ophidic accident. Report of 38 cases]

Thirty-eight patients admitted into the Hospital Escuela O'Horán for snake bites were studied. Most of them, 68.4 per cent, were from the state of Yucatan; 18.4 per cent from the state of Cameche and 13.1 per cent from the state of Quintana Roo. There was a predominance for the males (86.8 per cent); the most frequent age was the third decade (20-30 years) and most of these patients were peasants and students. The species identified in most of the accidents (63 per cent) were C. terrificus and B. atrox in equal proportions, and the body sections more often affected were the distal portions of the members. No difference, with statistic signification, was found for the different season. The time, between the bite and beginning of the treatment was directly proportional to the unfavorable development of the process: five amputations were necessary and two patients died.