Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-23
CURIOUS EXPERIMENT ON A RAT
TLE~NAKE.


The following curious facts respecting the Rat
tlesnake, are from letter Of Ju,Se Samuel
Woodruff, to Professor Sliman. in the last mum.
Der of the American Journal of Science:
Daring the summer months of 1901, resided
in the north eastern most part Ut the State of
Ohm. Rat,lesnakes we're then very numerous in
that region. found the opinion universally pre-.
valent among the inhabitants there. that the
leaves of the white ash were highly offensive to
the rattiesnake. Several persons OF reSpectdbI-
| lity assured me that the rattesnake was never
| found on land where the White ash grows; that
il was the uniform practice among hunters, as
we'll as others, whose business led them to ira.
verse the woods in the summer months, to stuH
their shoes and boo,s> and frequently their peck
cts also. with white ash leaves, as a preventive
of the bite of the rattlesnake, aud that they had
never known or heard of any person being bit
ten who USED This preventive.
Sometime III the month of Angus; went with
Mr.. r. Kiitlanh, and ID. e Dalton. then resid-
inc at Poland, to the Mahonins, for the purpose
of shooting deer, at place where they were In
the habit of coming 10 the river, tn Iced ON the
moss attached to the stones N the shoal water.
We took our watch station 90 an elevated part
of the bank, Is or 90 wards Il ON The edge OF the
water About an hour after we commenced our
watch. instead oil a deer, We discovered large
rattle snake. which, as It appeared, had ieft his
den IN IN, rock, beneath US. aud was slowly al
vant mo across Smuo!h. narrow sand beach to-
wards the water Upon hearing our VOICES, or
for some other cause, he Slapped, and lay stretch
I'd ou, with his he ad near the water II occurred
to me that an opportunity no" offered to try the
virtues of the White ash leaves. Requesting tine
gentleman To keep, in my absence, watch over
our object, went immediately in search OF the
leaves, and on piece of low ground so or 40
rods bac k from the river, som found. anu by
the aid of my hunting knife, procured small
white ash .aping 8or 10 feet in length. and with
view to make the experiment more satisfactory.
| | cut another saplIng OF the sugar maple, and
with these uQnds returned to the scene ut act'cn.
In order to cut off retreat to his den, approach
ed the snake in his rear.
As soon az came within about eight or ten
feet. he ou,, xiv threw his body into coil. ele-
,ated his head eight or ten n he'.s rand4shlng
his tongue. gave note OF pIeFara'''n 'or c""oa' L
| first presented him the white ash. placing the
leaves upon his BODY. He instantly dropped his
head TO the ground, unfnided his coil, rolled over
| unon his buck. writhpd aud twisted his whole
body into every form but that OF coil. and ap
neared 10 be in great anguish. Satisfied with the
trial thus far made, laid by the white ash Inc
rattle. snake Immediately righted and placed
himself in the same menacing attitude as be-
| for described.
I now presented him the sugar maple. He
lanced in moment, striking his head into tuit
of the leaves, with all the malice OF the under
6ends. F" and the next moment coed and lanced
again, darting his whole length at each effort
with the swiftness of an arrow. After repeating
this several times, again changed his fare. and
presented him the white ash. He lmmed'at,y
doused his peak stretched himself on his back,
and writhed bis body in the same manner
as at the first application. 1t vas then pro-
po.ed to try wha. effect might be produced upon