John Brown’s treatment followed a pattern familiar across Australia from 1800 into the 1960s. The stationmaster revived almost immediately, leading another doctor to assert “the injection of Ammonia saved the man’s life” (do not try this at home). He opened a vein in Brown’s arm and injected ammonia directly into the bloodstream. Brown, nevertheless, kept deteriorating.Īrnold urgently summoned the colony’s only medical professor, George Halford at Melbourne University, who reluctantly agreed to apply his new snake bite remedy. Further stimulation followed via electric shocks before the staggering, semi-conscious stationmaster was marched up and down to keep him awake – and alive.
He waved pungent smelling salts under Brown’s nose then applied a paste-like poultice of mustard to his patient’s hands, feet and abdomen to alleviate internal congestion. He then poured ammonia (a hazardous chemical used today in cleaning) onto the wound to neutralise any remaining venom before urging Brown to drink six ounces (175mL) of brandy to stimulate his circulation. The stationmaster was rushed to nearby Balaclava, where surgeon George Arnold tied a ligature (tourniquet) around Brown’s arm before slicing out the bite site, hoping to remove the venom. The usual signs of envenomation (venom injected into the skin) soon appeared: vomiting, physical weakness then creeping paralysis followed by “coma”. Either the serpent was still alive, or Brown brushed its fangs, when he struck it “with an angry gesture”.
When Victorian railway workers killed a brown snake at Elsternwick Station, they threw its body to stationmaster John Brown. Complex colonial remediesĪ typical case from 1868 suggests the complexity – and desperation – of colonial remedies. While improved transport, communications and ambulance services have all contributed, so have the first aid and medical measures used to counteract snake venom. Since then, the continent’s population has grown from 2.2 million to 24.3 million, yet on average just two people died from snake bites a year in 2001–2013. The human death toll is now admirably low, but it wasn’t always so.Īlthough colonial statistics are highly unreliable, in 1882-1892 about 11 people died from snake bites across Australia a year.
To be scored for NMA series points, you must have an updated NMA Membership as well as an active Competition License.Summer is traditionally Australia’s snake bite season, when both snakes and people become more active. There's even some asphalt motard racing at some sites-yes hard on tires, but some of the most fun you can have on a dirt bike!
Most locations offer single track and quad trails, but some venues offer up a bit of motocross, grass track, and even a little endurocross (typically with an alternative route for the faint of heart). Terrain is highly variable, and each location has its own unique character. Race venues include carefully managed private tracks and public lands by special permit. The NMA Off-Road Series has a Long Course and a Short Course. For Hare Scrambles, the Long Course runs between 2 hours and 3 hours before the course closes. The Short Course runs between 1.25 hours and 2 hours. There are 17 classes in the Off-Road Series 7 classes for Long Course and 10 classes for Short Course.Ĭlick here for more detailed class descriptions The NMA Off-Road Series may consist of Hare Scramble, Grand Prix, Desert, and Hare and Hound races. Typically the NMA Off-Road Series events run the Hare Scramble format, where riders try to complete as many laps as possible in a set time.