Study of the efficacy of the black stone on envenomation by snake bite in the murine model

The black stone (BS) has been used since antiquity to treat envenomations. Since no actual clinical trial has ever been performed we used an experimental approach to evaluate its efficacy against the venoms of Bitis arietans, Echis ocellatus and Naja nigricollis. Local application of BS after intramuscular venom injection had no demonstrable effect on the outcome of envenomationa and it did not change the LD50 of B. arietans venom. Our results show that, contrary to widespread belief, no efficacy to treat envenomation may be expected of the BS. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.