New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-05-14

terry, where few Of the neighbors conveyed
him, called in to see the widow, and found her
already past the first stage Of the fFighdhl dis
ease She had informed no one, and evi1satly
wished % die Oh how expressive was hsr ssd
smile when l again questioned her. Again
summoned my brethren again we went through
the hopeless routine. Scarce groan escaped
her, her only seeming anxiety being the troable
she gave Poor child-of sorrow! her young
iream Of life was indeed early clouded. Before
midnight she also found rest in Heaven.
INTERESTING CHAPTER on SSAKEs.-A paper
was lately read before the Boston Society of
Natural History, from DR.. w. J. Burnett, on
the character of the rattlesnake. The doctor
had been experimenting on two or three speci-
mems of this animal, and announces the discov-
cry of numerous embryo poison fangs in the jaws
Of the snake, Immediately behind the outward
fangs. The use of those hidden weapons Of des-
truction appears to be to supply the place of
the biting fangs Of the serpent when they get
broken off or worn out in service. 1t also ap-
pears that the long fangs 1.-TWO in number) which
are used in inicting the deadly bite Of the rattle
snake, are naturally shed every few years, when
they are not injured by accident or wear, and
the reserve fangs are sufficiently numerous to
meet the worst emergencies. From minute
microscopic examination Of the structure Of these
teeth, DIR. B. concludes that there are two canals
in each fang, only one of which conveys the
poison to the wound. Respecting the character
of the poison ITSELF the doctor remarks follows:
There is good reason for the belief that its
action is the same upon all living things, vege-
tables as well as animals. 1t is even just as
fatal to the snake itself, as to other animals, for
DR.. Dearing informed me that one Of his speci-
mems, after being irritated and annoyed in its
cage in moving suddenly, accidentally struck one
of its fangs into his own body it soon rolled over
and died. as any other animal would have done.
Hara then wo have tho r la hIa nj nd
haps unique philosophical fact, of liquid Sc
creted directly from the blood, which proves
deadly when introduced into the very source
(the bloody from which it was derived v''
In order to scrutinize by the aid Of the micro.
scope the operation of this deadly agent on the
blood, DR.. Burnett stupifed one Of the fercest
of his snakes by dropping chloroform ON his
head: sHE- s
"Twenty five or thirty drops being allowed to
fall on his head, one slowly after the other, the
sound of his rattle gradually died away, and in
a few minutes he was wholly under this agent.
He was then adroitly seized behind the jaws
with the thumb and fore-fnger, and dragged
from the cage, and allowed to partially resusci-
tate; in this state a second person held his tail
| to prevent his coiling around the arm of the
| first, while third opened his mouth, and with
| a pair of forceps pressed the fang upward, caus-
ing a flow of poison which was received on the
| end of the scalpel. The snake was then returned
into the cage
" Blood was then extracted from finger, for
close miscroscopical examination. The smallest
quantity Of the poison being presented to the
blood between the glasses, a change was imme-
diately perceived-the corpuscles ceased to run
and pile together, and remained stagnant with
out any special alienation of structure. The
whole appearance was as though the vitality of
the blood had been suddenly destroyed, exactly
| as in death from lightning This agrees also
with another experiment performed on o fowl,
where the whole mass Of the blood appeared
quite liquid, and having but little coagulable
power" g.... -.s
Dr. Burnett is of the opinion that the physio-
logical action of the poison Of the rattlesuake in
animals is that of most powerful sedatjve, act
ing through the blood on the nervous centres.
He supports this position by the remarkable fact
that its full and complete antidotes are the most
active stimulants; and of these, alcohol (com-
monty in the form of rum or whisky is the first.
This remedy is well known in the South, and
| there are some twenty five authentic cases on
record proving that person suffering from the
bite of rattlesnake may drink from one to
two quarts of clear brandy without feeling the
| slightest tendency to intoxication, and eventu-
ally recover. Hartford Times.
| x----
| HoRsE-HAIR SNAKES Concerning these sinu-
Gus and attenuated entities, DR.. Gideon B.
Smith addresses the following communicStion to
the Baltimore Patriot;
81 would suggest to the citizens Of Baltimore
very simple plan for straining all their hy-
drant water, which, at this season of the year,
is matter of some Importance to delicate pal
ates. Take about q quarter Of yard square
of good fine flannel, and tie it firmly over the
mouth of the hydrant spout, leaving small
| sack or.bag, of the size of goose-egg, in the
, centre of the flannel. The writer fixed his hy-
drant in this way, and it proves perfectly
effectual. At this time the little horse-hai
snake or eel is very abundant in all the streams
/ and pools of water, and frequently makes its
appearance in the hydrant water, and the above
plan will certainly catch it. This little reptile
is believed to be perfectly harmless. 1t is gen.
orally supposed to be produced from horse-hair
that has fallen into the water. This is Of course
ridiculous coinmon error. 1t is, like all other
organized beings, animal or vegetable, regular
organized animal, propagated by its own kind
Its scientific name is gordius aguitdcus- At
the present time, and for a few weeks to come,
it appears nearly white, or like a thread Of
gloss or white horse chair, only q little longer.
1t is very active, swimming about rapidly. 1t
has probably just cast off its old skin. In q
week or two it will be dark brown or nearly
black, somewhat like piece of dark colored
horse hair, from two three to i've six inches
long l have had several of these reptiles
brought to me lately, and many inquiries made
respecting them. The above plan will efectu-
, ally prevent their being swallowed All pools
and streams of water in the Middle and South
| ern States are equally inhabited by them"
An OYSTER CATCHING A MousE.-In Allen
L aLw anr -