Why is the five-paced pit viper called the five-paced pit viper? Analysis of the origin of the name
The five-paced pit viper is a venomous monotypic snake under the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae, also known as the hundred-paced snake, Chinese pit viper, seven-paced snake, and so on. It is widely distributed in China, with the largest concentrations in the Wuyi Mountain area and the mountainous area of southern Anhui. It has a fierce temperament and relatively long fangs, and dangerous incidents and even deaths caused by its bites are quite common in China. Let us take a look below at why the five-paced pit viper is called the five-paced pit viper!
Why is the five-paced pit viper called the five-paced pit viper?
The origin of the name of the five-paced pit viper can no longer be verified, but the following explanations should all be reasonable. First, the five-paced pit viper is highly venomous, and after being bitten, envenomation is certain within five paces (not death; it is not that powerful), so it is also called "five-pace down." Second, the five-paced pit viper is lazy by nature, and people are attacked only when they come within five paces of it. Third, the five-paced pit viper has excellent protective coloration, and it is said that it can only be discovered when one walks very close (within five paces).
What other names does the five-paced pit viper have?
The five-paced pit viper has a great many regional aliases. Common ones include five-pace down, rock-head spot, white-flowered snake (Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang), Qi snake (Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Zhejiang), five-paced pit viper (Zhejiang), five-paced dragon (Anhui, Jiangxi), hundred-paced snake (Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, China), five-stick snake, rock dragon (Chongqing), turning-over flower (Hunan, Jiangxi), chessboard snake, chessboard pattern, coiled snake, kasaya snake (northern Fujian), upturned-nose snake (Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang), plowshare snake, upturned-nose snake (Leishan, Guizhou), plowshare craftsman (Xingyi, Guizhou), silk-releasing snake (Zhejiang), deaf old woman snake (Guangxi), blind snake (Jiangxi), lazy snake (Jiangxi), and so on.
What should be done if bitten by a five-paced pit viper?
1. Tie off the wound: After being bitten by a five-paced pit viper, a ligature should immediately be applied 5-10 cm proximal to the wound (on the side closer to the heart), and afterward it should be loosened once every 15-30 minutes, with each loosening lasting about 30 seconds to 1 minute, to avoid ischemic necrosis of the limb.
2. Flush the wound: After the wound is tied off, it should be flushed immediately. The flushing liquid may be normal saline, hydrogen peroxide, cold tea, soapy water, 0.1% potassium permanganate solution, and so on. If none of the above liquids are available, the injured limb can be placed in a stream or pond to rinse.
3. Debride and expel venom: Use both hands to repeatedly squeeze from the proximal end toward the distal end and from all around toward the wound for about 15 minutes to expel the venomous blood. A breast pump or cupping jar can also be used to suction out the venom. Do not suck the blood with the mouth, to avoid the toxin spreading from inside the oral cavity.
4. Burn the snake venom with fire: Snake venom is a toxic protein and can be destroyed and disinfected by flash burning with matches. Place 4-6 match heads on the wound and ignite them to burn, or use a lighter to burn at the wound, continuously 3-5 times, but this is only suitable for snakebites with relatively shallow fang marks.
5. Take emergency medication: Immediately after injury, take Chinese patent medicine for treating snakebites, with the first dose doubled. The snake medicine can also be mixed with saliva or warm water into a paste and applied around the wound at about 2 cm, but do not apply medicine on the wound itself, to avoid blocking lymphatic fluid outflow because of clogging of the wound.
6. Antivenom serum: Go to the hospital as early as possible for treatment with five-paced pit viper antivenom serum, along with symptomatic treatment such as anti-inflammatory and anti-tetanus measures, but some patients may have allergic reactions to snake antivenom serum, so generally an allergy test must be done before use.