Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-02

put into a small basket and carried for
ward. In one hour after he was found
dead, and no account of irritation could
excite the least Indication of life. -Four
hours after, while removing the skin for
the blood oozed slowly from
the vessels in dissolved state. No vio-
lence was done to his snakeship, except
what he did to himself.
Another moccasin, shot by a pistol
about two inches back of the head, and
skinned Immediately, gave decided evi-
dence of vitality four hours after being
Hayed, by wreathing the body whenever
it was irritated by scalpel.
A large rattlesnake, beheaded instantly
with hoe, would, an hour and q half af-
ter, strike at any thing that pinehed its
tail. OF several persons who weretesting
their frmness of nerve, 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, a great bully, by-the-by, was
struck on the naked throat with consider
able violence by the headless trunk of the
serpent, and staggered back, tainted, and
fell from terror. Mr.. Stewart, of Miss
issippi, tells me he witnessed a similar
scene once. An old hunter shot rattle
snakes head off, and after reloading his
gun and standing some time, he stopped
to pull off the rattles, and the bloody but
headless trunk of the snake struck him in
the temple, and he tainted and fell down
with terror.
Seven venomous serpents belonging tc
five different species, were made to fra
ternize and dwell amieably in one den
A beautiful pair of long-bodied, speckled
snakes. known as king-snakes, and founC
to be fangless, and consequently withou
venom, were duly installed as member:
Of the family. Some uneasiness was per
ceived among the older members, but nc
attempt was made TO destroy the intruders
though they might have been killed in
stanter. The next morning four of th,
venomous serpents were found to hav,
been destroyed by the king-snakes, ant
one was still within their coil, and the twt
remaining ones would make no effort a
self-defence. A large rattlesnake seemed
stupid and Indifferent TO his tate. Ill,
could not be made to threaten or Civ,
warning even with his rattles. Tht
smallest kiug-snake was afterward inocu
lated with the poison of one of the ser
pents he had destroyed, and died imme
diately aherward-thus evincing thatthe
must have exercised some power beside
physical force to overcome their fellow
creatures.
In short, the results of great numbe
of experiments performed with the venor
of a great variety Ofserpents, seem to lea
to the following conclusions:
1. That the venom of all serpents act
as a poison in similar manner.
2. That the venom of some varietie
is far more active than that of others.
; 8. That variety of the eollube
known as the cotton-mouth, is the mo
venomous serpent in Arkansas.
4. That the venom of serpents d.
stroys all forms of organized life, veget
bic as well as animal.
5. That alcohol, if brought in confa
with the venom, is, to a certain extent, g
> antidote.
6. That serpents do possess the pow
of fascinating small animals, and that tt
power is identical with mesmerism.
z. That the blood of small anims
+ destroyed by the venom of serpents, bea
n a close resemblance to that of animals
Q stroyed by lightning or hydrocyanic aci'
Il it loses its power of coagulation, and C
u not be long kept frUm ougauiatiuu.