I was able to review the scientific articles provided by Macgyver. Seems like such an unlikely idea, doesn't it? I scratched my head over it when I read Macgyver's original post, but at the moment, I'll concede that the method seems to have merit.

I still have some serious reservations, at least based on reading this particular set of articles. The fact that no one really understands how high voltage direct current (HVDC) affects the venom is one. There are theories given and observations, but no definitive explanations yet. And the second is that none of these articles reports the results of truly scientific experiments, in the sense that you compare people with bites who were treated and not treated with HVDC. Or even lack of a good animal study that supports HVDC. Those are pretty serious gaps in our knowledge and without filling in those holes, the medical community will never accept this technique.

However, the fact that Drs. Guderian and Osborn have reported on successfully treating over 600 patients is hard to ignore, too. And based on that and the fact that even a prestigious medical journal like the Lancet would even consider mentioning it in its pages, if I were bitten in some jungle by a lethal snake and days away from the nearest hospital, I think I would give it a try. On the other hand, if I simply saw an infomercial on TV where the guy claims to have successfully treated 600 people with his patent-pending electric venon zapper, I would pass.

So, Macgyver, you say you've done this a number of times. What kind of set up are you using? And since I've never been shocked with a stun gun or cattle prod, how does it feel? Like the shock from static electricity? In one of Dr. Osborn's articles, a poor kid was stung by a wasp on the bridge of his nose and his face was swelling badly. The modified stun gun was used on his face! Now that's gotta hurt! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />