How is horse serum used for snake bites?

Question

How is horse serum used for snake bites?

Answer 1

Venom from particular species of snakes is injected into horses who react by producing an antixoxin to it. Serum from the horse's blood is injected into a bitten human or other animal to help combat the effects of the toxins injected by a snake bite. If you happen to be allergic to horse serum, there may be other antivenins available or you could be SOL.

Answer 2

Antivenin is created by injecting a small amount of the targeted venom into an animal such as a horse, sheep, goat, or rabbit; the subject animal will suffer an immune response to the venom, producing antibodies against the venom's active molecule which can then be harvested from the animal's blood and used to treat envenomation in others. Internationally, Snake Venom Antitoxin must carefully meet the standards of Pharmacopoeia and the World Health Organization (WHO). [1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antivenin