Controversies and hazards in the treatment of pit viper bites.

This paper discusses the pathology produced by pit viper venom and the pharmacologically active substances released by the action of venom on human tissue. The risks of many of the popular methods of treatment such as tourniquets, cryotherapy, incisions, excisions, and cortisone are also discussed. A prospective treatment plan was devised which was limited to measures of proven benefit, and 28 patients were treated with no mortality or tissue necrosis.