Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-03-30
INTER ESTlNG SN AXE STORY,

INTERESTING SN sKE STORY.
n writer in Siliiman's Scientific
Journal gives an account of an inter.
es'ins experiment made upon the body
OF " large rattlc-saake a few wears
since IN the northern part ofthc state
OF Ohio where rattlc-snakes arc said to
be very large and numerous:
The experiment which We are about
to relate was made about thirty wears
ago by Judge Woodruil'in order to test
the accuracy Of a prevailing notior
among the people tha: the leaves of
the Whlteash were highly offensive TO
the rattle-s AXE, and that this horrid
reptile was never & und On land where
the white ash grows. l: is the Il ifo,m
practice among the hunters ~,o ira.
verse the forest in summer, to stuff their
boots and SHOES and pockets with white
ash leaves for the purpose Of securing
themselves against the bite OF the
rattle snake; and il is said that no per-
son was ever bitten who had rcsorted 10
this precaution. The account given
b, Jndso N oodrutf n,nntione that ho
was one ola small party who went to
the Mahoning river for the purpose OF
deer. The party took their
station upon an elevated spot fifteen o.
twenty yards from the waters cdrc.
Here the men watched for their wished
tor game about al hour. but instead
81 Il harmless aud beautiful deer. ne,
saw a large rattlc-snake which had
crawied out from among the roo k ,c
heath the men and was slowly making
us way acfos> Il narrow. smooth s7nd
beach towards tie river. Upon hear
ng the voice of the men, the snake hal
ed aud lay stretched on, with his head
'ear the water. 1t was determined
o try the effect Of the ash leaves.
accordingly search wa. made, and
mall " bite ash sapling, eight or ter
eet long, was p ocured, and with Il
lew to make the experiment more
another sapling Of sugar
maple was cut. In ord to proven.
he snakes return to his den the Judge
pproached him in tie rear. and wher
e had advanced within about eight
eet Of him, the snake coilcd IN hi,
ody. elevated his head several inches.
randished his tongue and thus signi
cd his readiness for battle. TIL
Judge then presented the white as!,
and, placing the leaves upon the
make. The snake instantly dropped
IS head upon the ground, unioldcd
IS coil. rolled over upon his back.
Etched and twisted his whole BODY
ITO every form but that OF Il coil. au..
ave signs of being in great a-on-.
he white ash was thea laid bv.upon
hich the snake immei:ately placed
nself into coil and assumed the
iitude OF defence as before. The
gar maple stick was next used.
he snake darted forward in a twin
ing. thrust his head into the leaves.
With all the malice of the under
.nds, and the next moment coi!ed
I'd ianced again. daring his whole
myth at each eiior: with the sw;ftncs.
an arrow. After repeating this
vera! times. says the Judge. AGAR.
'aE5tu MS isFc. ana presented HIM
e white ash. He immediately dnused
: peak, stretched himself out on his
cN; and wrIthcd his body in the
NE manner as at the frs, application.
was then proposed to tr, what ehr.ct
Oh. be produced upon his temper
d courage by a little noggins witt,
= white ash. This was administered.
t instead OF arousiog him to resent
mt. it proved only to increase his
'ubles. As the fogging grew more
7ere. the snake frequently struck his
aI int Tho