Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-08-05
The Mathematics Poison.

q IL
Bullock county, Georgia, thrust his hand into
the hollow of tree in search Of rabit, and
was bien by ratilesnake. He Immediately
grew sick, and died in FIVE minutes after being
conveyed home.
As the ratilesnake is found in no part of the
world bu, The continent of America, and as il
possesses several remarkable peculiarities, i,
has frequently been captured, placed in cage
and exhibited as curiosity. The exhibitors
of :his dangerous reptile have frequently lost
their lives by being accidentally bitten, while
some others have perished from the bite, be-
lievinc that they possessed an antidole 10 the
swift circulating poison. Some years ago, one
of The keepers of the New England Museum,
in the act of rousing the den of ra,.lesnakes,
vi hich are there exhibited in connection with
the thousand and one wonders of that establish
ment, met with very alarming accident
Having introduced feather brush, by raising
the lid about an inch, and getting them suffi-
cenlly reused to sci their rattles going like the
buz of cotton factory---a bysiander at his el-
bow asked him a question which he did not
precisely understand, and turned his head to-
wards the gentleman, land al 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 prodigious
force, as to reach the bone al one of the pune
lures The sufferer had presence of mind
enough 10 cord the finger Immediately; in a
short time an excsion of the flesh, including
The wounds, was made by physician, who al
so prescribed dose of spirits of turpentne
and sweet oil. Not only the finger but the
whole hand swelled exceedingly, accompanied
with prickling sensation, or, commonly
termed, the sensation of being asleep.
About eight o'clock in the evening, there
was partial structure about the lungs, and dlf-
ficully of taking free inspiration, together with
the prickling sensation of the whole system,
and an ague fiji, that gave fearful indications OF
free diffusion of The poison through the cir
cula,ion large, dose of opium relieved the
patient Of the spasm---and continued use OF
| i, overcame the tendency 10 such paroxysms.
An application of salt and vinegar, constantly
applied 10 the hand and arm, kept the inf1ama-
Under subjec,ion. The limb was very much
swollen---lhe tongue coated, and slight degree
of fever existed, but happy recovery was ac-
complished.
We have been particular in the narration OF
this case, for the benefit of oihers-hoping lha,
the mode of treatment. so successful, may be
adopted by other sufferers. It should be recol-
lec,ed, that caustic 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 10 witness the re-
suit Nearly every snake gave the affrighied
animal a thrust with its fangs. In about SIX
minutes, the rat began 10 lremble violently, and
died Instantly.
A master millwright who was at work on a
saw mill in Sullivan county, New York, some
years ago, one day during the dinner hour, and
before his men had resumed their work, was
sitting alone on one of the floor iimbers, care
lessly swinging his naked foot; he felt some
thing strike it, and on looking down saw a
large ra,tlesnake in the act of diving into the
brook below He Immediately started for the
house, but had gone but few yards when q
severe pain or spasm brought him 10 the ground
and rendered him incapable of proceeding his
cries brought his men 10 his assistance, who
carried him up 10 the house. They were al
strangers in that country, which was then 6
wilderness, almost withou, inhabitants, ant
none knew what TO do 10 relieve the bitten man
whose agony appeared to be extreme when The
spasms were on, which occurred about every
minute. and which he said "struck from hi:
IOOt 10 Ms neaft ana WOulu tdko Mo iiC. ~
swce, oil was 10 be had in that wilderness
But hogs lard after melting it till il became
LIQUID, was administered, about two-thlrds OF {
common sized tea cup full, repeating the dose
as frequently as his stomach would retain it.
In short time, perhaps less than hlieeI
minutes, the spasms were less frequent and less
strong than they had been, and in about an hou
ceased altogether, and he was free from pair
except in his foot. No other remedy was uset
internally Al the outward applications were
as follows:
Previous 10 lard being administered, and while
getting il ready, his foot was washed and ex
amined for the wound, but none could be found
there appeared very slight scratch, scarcely
percep'ible on The spot he pointed out. II was
then scarified lirle, with a pen-kniie. so al
to produce raw appearance. One OF the meI
procured bucket of mud from the brook. anf
placed the foot in H. II was said by some one
/ present. lha, if bandage of white oak bark
was placed around The limb above the bite, i
would not swell above. This was procured
and Iigsture of i, placed above the ankle, ant
another below the knee. The bite was on lht