Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-11
Tn. venom or serpents.

The Venom OF serpcnts.
The following is by S. Gilman, L. l.. d., pub
lished in the St. Louis Medical Joayrsal, and
is certainly the most interesting article we ever
read on the subject.
There is much in the history and habits OF
the reptile tribes, however repulsive they may
be in appearance, that is very interesting. Dur
ing sojourn of two or three months in the
interior Of Arkansas, which appears to me to
be the paradise of reptiles, paid some atten-
ton to that branch of history called ophiology.
found four distinct varieties of rattlesnakes,
(crotalslS) of which the Crotalus Horridus and
Crotalus Kirtlandii are by far the most numer-
Gus. The former is the largest serpent in North
America. The family Of moccasin snakes
(Colluber) is also quite numerous, there being
no less than ten varieties, most of which being
quite as venomous as the rattlesnake. BY dis
secting great numbers of different species l
learned that the anatomical structure OF the
poisoning apparatus is similar in all the differ
ent varieties of venomous serpents. 1t consists
Of strong frame of bone, with its appropriate
muscles in the upper part Of the head, resem'
bling, and being in fact pair of jaws, but exter
nally, to the jaws, proper, and much stronger.
To these is attached by gingly mold artic-
ulation, one or more movable fangs on each
side, Just at the verge Of the mouth, capable OF
being erected at pleasure. These fangs are
very hard, sharp and crooked, like the claws OF
cat, and hooked backward, with hollow
from the base to near the point have oc-
casionally seen thin slit bone, divide this hol-
low, making two. At their base is found q
small sack containing two or three drops OF
venom, which resembles thin honey. The sack
is so connected with the cavity of the fang du-
ring its erection, that a slight upward pressure
forces the venom into the fang at its base, ana
it makes its exit, at slit or opening near the
point with considerable force; thus it is car
ried to the bottom of any wound made by the
fang. Unless. the fangs are erected for battle,
they lie concealed in the upper part OF the
mouth, sunk between the external and internal
Jaw bones, somewhat like a pen-knife blade
shut up in its handle, where they are covered
BY q fold of membrane, which encloses them
ike sheath-this is the yagina dentis. There
can be no doubt that these fangs are frequently
broken off or she'd as the head grows broader,
to mske room for new ones nearer the verge OF
the mouth: for, within the vagina DENTS of a
very large crotalus horridus, found no less
than FIVE fangs on each side-in all stages of
formation-the smallest in half PUPPY or car
tilaginous state, the next something harder, the
third still more perfect, and so on to the main,
we'll set, perfect fang. Each ofthese teeth has
a we'll defined cavity like the main one. Three
fangs on each side were frequently found in
copper heads, vipers, and others.
The process of robbing serpents OF their
venom is easily accomplished by the aid of
chloroform, few drops of which supplies
them. If, while they are under its influence,
they are carefully seized by the neck, and the
vagina dentist held out of the way by an as
sistant, with pair of forceps, and the fang be
erected and gently pressed upward, the venom
will be seen issuing from the fang, and drop
ping from its point. 1t may then be absorbed
by bit of sponge, or caught in a vial, or on
the point of lancet After robbing several
serpents in this manner, they were found, after
two days, to be as highly charged with venom
of equal intensity with that first taken.
During the process of robbing species of
serpents, innoculated several small but vigor-
GUS and perfectly healthy vegetables with the
point of lancet well charged with venom.
The next day they were withered and dead,
looking as they had been scathed with light
ming. In attempting to preserve few drops
Of venom, for future experiments, in small
vial with two or three parts Of alcohol, it was
| found in short time to have lost its veno-
nous properties. But after mixing the venom
with aqua ammonia, or spirits OF turpentine
| or oil Of peppermint, or of cinnamon, or o.
cloves, or with nitric or sulphuric acid, it still
seemed to act with undiminished energy. 1t
is best preserved, however, for future use BY
trituration with refined sugar or sugar OF milk.
A very fine large cotton-mouth snake, being
captured by putting shoe-string around him,
became excessively ferocious, striking at even
the crack of small riding-whip. Finding
himself a prisoner, without hope of escape, he
turned his deadly weapons on his own body,
striking repeatedly his well charged fangs
deeply into his flesh. Notwithstanding this,
he was put in small basket, and carried for
ward. In one hour after, he was found dead,
and no amount of irritation could excite the
least indication of life.
A large rattlesnake, beheaded instantly with
a hoe, would an hour and half after, strike
at anything that pinched its tail Of several
persons who were testing their frmness OF
nerve by trying to hold the hand steady while
the serpent struck at it, not one could be found
whose hand would not recoil in spite Of his
resolution; and one man, great bully, blythe.
by, was struck on the naked throat with con-
siderable force by the headless trunk of the
serpent and staggered back, tainted, and fell,
from terror.
Seven venomous servants, belonging to five
different species, were made to fraternize and
dwell amicably in one den. A beautiful pair
of long bodied speckled snakes, known as king
snakes, known tobe fangless, and consequently
without venom, were duly installed as members
Of the family. Some uneasiness was perceiva-
BILE among the older members, but no attempt
was made to destroy the intruders, though they
might have been killed instanter. The next
morning four of the yenomous serpents were
found TO have been destroyed by the king
snakes, and one was within their coil, and the
two remaining ones would make no effort at
selfdefense. A large rattlesnake seemed stupid
and Indifferent to his fate. He could not be
made to threaten or give warning even with
his rattles. The smallest king-snake was after
words inoculated with the poison Of one of the
serpents he bad destroyed and died immedi-
ately after--thus evincing that they must have
exercised some power besides physical force to
overcome their fellow creatures.
In short, the result of a great number Of ex.
periments performed with the venom on great