The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-17
ON THE VENOM OF sERPENrs.

| There is much in the history and habit:
of the reptile tribe, however repulsive they
may be in appearance, that is very interest
ing. During a sojourn of two or three
months in the interior of Arkansas, which
appears to me to be the paradise of reptiles
| paid some attention to that branch of his
tory called ophiology. / found four dis
tinct varieties Of rattlesnakes. (Crotalus.,
of which the Crotalus Horridus and Gro
| talus kirtlandii are by far the most numer-
Gus. The former is the largest serpent in
! North America. The family of moccasin
there being not less than ten varieties,
most of which being quite as venomous as
the rattlesnake. BY dissecting great num-
bers of different species l learned that the
anatomical structure of the poisoning ap-
paratus is similar in all the different varie-
ties of venomous serpents. 1t consists of
q strong frame work of bone, with its ap-
propriate muscles in the upper part of the
head, resembling, and being in fact pair
of jaws, but externally to the jaws proper,
and much stronger. To these is attached
by a ginglymoid articulation, 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,
shap, and crooked, like the claws of a cat
and hooked backward, with hollow from
the base to near the point. l have occa-
- ~
hollow, making two. At their base is found
a small sack containing two or three drops
of venom, which resembles thin honey
The sack is so connected with the cavity of
the fang during its erection, that Slight
upward pressure forces the vcnum into the
fang at its base, and it makes its exit at
small slit or opening near the point, with
considerable force; thus it is carried 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 pen knife blade shut
up in its handle, where they arc covered by
told OF membrane, which enclOses them
like a sheath-this is the ragina dentis.-
There can be no doubt that these fangs are
frequently broken off or shed, as the head
grows broader, TO make room for new ones
nearer the verge of the mouth; for, within
the vagina DENTS of very large crotalus
horrdus, | found no less than five fangs on
each side-in all stages of formation-the
smallest in a half pulpy or cartila ginous
state, the next something harder, the third
still more perfect, and so on to the main,
well set perfect fang. Each of these had
a well-defned 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, q few drops of which Supplies
them. If, while they are under its inhu-
ence, they are carefully seized by the neck,
and the vagina DENTS held out of the way
by an assistant, with pair of forceps, and
fang be erected and gently pressed up
ward, the venom will be seen issuing from
the fang, and dropping from it's point. 1t
may then be absorbed by bit of sponge,
or caught in vial, or Oh the point of
lancet. After robbing several serpents in
this manner, they were found, after two
days, to he as higely charged as ever with
venom of equal intensity with that first TAX
en-.
During the process of rohbing several
species of serpents, innoculated several
small but vigorous and perfectly healthy
vegetables with the point of lancet well
charged with venom. The next day they
were withered and dead, looking as though
they had been scathed with lightning. In
attempting to preserve few drops of venom
for future experiments, in a small vial with
two or three parts of alcohol, it was found
in short time to have lost its venomous
propensities. But after mixing the venom
with qua ammonia, or spirits of turpentine,
or oil of peppermint, or of cinnamon, or of
cloves, or with nitric or sulphuric acid, it
still seems to act with undiminished energy.
1t is best preserved, however, for future
use by trituration with refined sugar or su-
gar of milk.
A very fine, large cotton-mouth snake,
being captured by putting a 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 weap-
ons on his own body, striking repeatedly
his well-charged fangs deeply into his flesh.
Notwithstanding this he was put in a small
basket and carried forward. 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 a half after,
strike at anything that pinched its tail. Of
several persons who were testing their firm
nessof nerve bytry,ng TO hold the hand steady
while the serpent struck atit, not one could
be found whose hand would not recoii in
spite of his resolution; and one man. great