Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-02
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
SNAKE RITES

the following article from the Burlington
tWisconsin) Gazette, will not be without in
terest for many of those who live in exposed
situations, and who, in the course of their bu-
siness, cannot know at what moment they
may require aid to guard them against the eff
fects of one of the most subtle poisons that
can act upon the human system -
GAS the rattlesnake is found in no part of
the world but the continent of America, and
as it possesses several remarkable peculiari-.
ties, it has frequently been captured, placed
in cage, and exhibited as a curiosity. The
exhibitors of this dangerous reptile have fire.
quently lost their lives by being accidentally
bitten, while others have persisted from the
bite, believing that they possessed an antidote
to the swift circulating poison Several years
ago, one of the keepers of the New England
Museum, in the act of rousing the den of rat
tlesnakes, which are there exhibited, in con-
nection with the thousand and one wonders of
that establishment, met with a very alarm
ing accident. Having introduced feather
brush, by raising the lid about an inch, and
getting them sufficiently reused to set their
rattles going like the buZ of cotton factory
a bystander at his elbow asked him a ques-
ton which he did not precisely understand,
4 and turned his head towards the gentleman
Fand at the same instant one of the largest
snakes ran his head through the opening, and
thrust his fangs into the little finger of his
right hand, with such prodigous force as to
reach the bone at one of the punctures. The
sufferer had presence of mind enough to cord
the finger immediatel y; in short time an eX-
cision of the flesh, including the wounds, was
made by physician, who also prescribed a
dose of spirits of turpentine and sweet OIL
Not only the finger but the whole hand swell
ed exceedingly, accompanied with prickling
sensation, or, as commonly termed, the sensa-
ton OF being asleep.
About eight o'clock in the evening, there
was a partial structure about the lungs, and
difficulty of taking free inspiration, together
with the prickling sensation over the whole
system, and an ague fit that gave fearful indi-
cations of free diffusion of the poison thro'
the circulation. A large dose of opium re-
lieved the patient OF the spams-and a con-
tinued use of it overcame the tendency of such
paroxysms. An application of salt and vine
gar, constantly applied to the hand and arm,
kept the inflammation under subsection. The
limb was very much swollen-the tongue
coated, and slight degree of fever existed,
but happy recovery was accomplished.
We have been particular in the narration OF
this case for the benefit of others-hoping that
the mode of treatment, SO successful may be
adopted by other sufferers. 1t should be re-
collected that causlc was inserted as soon as
the flesh was cut out.
On one occasion, the keeper referred to, put
a rat into the den on purpose to witness the
result, Nearly every snake gave the alright
: ed animal thrust with his fangs. In about
six minutes, the rat began to .tremble violent
ly, and died instantly.
A master mllwright who was at work or
/ a saw mill in Sullivan county, New York
/ some years ago, one day during the dinner
! hour, and before his men had resumed theil
l work, was sitting alone on one of the floor
| tlmbers, carelessly swinging his naked foot
he felt something strike it, and on looking
down saw large rattlesnake in the act OF dl.
7 wing into the brook below He Immediately
5 started for the house, but had gone but few
} yards when severe pain or spasm brought
him to the ground, and rendered him incapable
of proceeding his cries brought his men tc
5 his assistance, who carried him up to the
house. They were all strangers in that coun
: try, which was then a wilderness, aImos
2 without inhabitants, and none knew what tc
r do to relieve the bitten man, whose agony ap'
peared to be extreme when the spasms were
1 on, which occurred about every minute, anC
;, which he said struck from his foot to hi:
: heart, and would take his life' No swee
S oil was to be had in that wilderness. Blu
hogs lard, after melting it till it became liquid
. was administered, about two-thirds of a com
f mon sized tea cup full, repeating the dose a.
frequently as his stomach would retain it, II
short time, perhaps less than fifteen minutes
: the spasms were less frequent and less strong
:, than they had been, and in about an hou
S ceased altogether, and he was free from pail
e except in his foot No other remedy wa
: used internally. All the outward application
S were as follows Previous to lard being ad
o ministered, and while getting it ready, his foo
J. was washed and examined for the wound, blu
t none could be found; there appeared yer.
: slight scratch, scarcely perceptible, on tn
o spot he pointed out. 1t was then scarlfied ;
little, with penknife, so as to produce raw
d appearance. One of the men procured buck
o ct of mud from the brook and placed the foo
e in it. 1t was said by some one present, tina
: if bandage of white ash bark was placed a
S round the limb above the bite, it would no
d swell above. This was procured, and llga
k ture of it placed above the ankle, and anothe
e below the knee. The bite was on the top o
l. the foot just above the two middle toes. III
II foot was swelled greatly, and changed to va
S rious colors, and he was deprived of It's us
K for some time.
In the year 1850, a slave in South CAROLYN
4 discovered another remedy for the bite of tn
1t rattlesnake, for which the Legislature OF tn
It State obtained his freedom, and granted hlr
= one hundred pounds in money. His remed
:. is as follows:
. Take of the roots of Plantane or Hore
hound Gin summer, roots and branches togeth
err a sufficient quantity, bruise them i'll a MOI
tar, and squeeze out the juice, OF which give
= as soon as possible, one large spoonful If j
e is swelled, you must force it down the throat
|, This generally will cure, but if the patlen
lr finds no relief in an hour after, you may CIV
l. another spoonful, which never has failed
IS But if the roots are dried, they must be mols
tened with little water. To the wound ma
e be applied leaf of good tobacco, moistene
n with rum :"
e Since selecting the above, we notice state
g ment copied from the Macon Messenger
/, which speaks of alum as a simple and efec
IS tive remedy for the cure of the bite of the raj
IS tlesnake. A piece of the size of hIckor
h nut, dissolved in water and drank, or chewe
e and swallowed, is sufficient. 1t has been trle
is many times, on men and dogs, and they hav
is invariably recovered The writer says,
h know of some planters whose hands are e2
d posed to be bitten by rattlesnakes, who a.
ct ways have themselves provided with it
4 their pockets, and they have sometimes toun
y use for it.
:. Nom Remedu for Pulmonary Diseases