The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-01-07

scraped and pounded portion OF it into thin,
imPalp lpable powder, which he rubbed into the
punctures upon his hand and arm. He bit off
and swallowed another portion of the same
bean. This specific he called the Cedron bean.
at grows" said he, sin the East, and is an
infalIible cure for the bite of venomous rep
tiles"
In the mean time the virus, having become
diffused throughout his system, began 10 pro-
duce painful and alarming effects. The arm
and hand, swollen TO enormous size, assumed
Ivd hue. Vertigo, nausea aud supor-the
three most fatal symptoms in cases of assault up
on the powers Of life by reptile Poison-began
to supervenr. Death seemed inevitable, and
almost al hand.
The courageous ran refused either to sit or
lie down, but walked backwards and forwards,
uttrrin1 occasionally suppressed groan of an-
guish. The torture of the pain he endured
forced the prespiration in streams from his fore
head and face. To the inquiry Of one who AS
ked if he suffered much, he replied, ''Yrs,
more than tongue can express, or you can con-
ceive."
The landlord at the Springs, alarmed at the
fatal result Of the experiment, and appTehen-
sve that the snakes might escape TO infest his
premises, rushed out, cudgr in hand and with
loud mprecations, to Kill them. The sick man,
whose first care, after being bitten, lad been 10
replace and secure all the snakes, including the
untampd one, in their boxes, seemed 10 forget
his own sultrings in the imminence Oft the peril
which threatened his uncoulh favorites. Con-
fronting the landlord with both look and mean
ing gesture, and protesting loudly against the
meditated assault upon the snakes, he threaten
ed TO lnfict immediate and summary punish
Tent for any harm that might be- done them.-
Awed by the stern vsaae and fierce words oil
the man, the landlord desised from his under
taking and retired within the hotel. Such an
outburst OF passion and combaiiveness from one
who seemed to be already dying from the bite
OF one sfIhe monsters which be wass. Prns1Ft
to defend, struck the behodrrS with ming led
astonishment and awe. Was il the dtlirium of
approaching d, ,ath, or the madness Of a wild al
tachment TO the reptile companions Of his wan
derings, that fred his passions and led TO the
spectacle which they had just witnessed? No
one could tell, but all looked on, amazed and
perpexrd al what they saw and heard.
1t was with the snake tanner, now apparent
Iy in the last extremity, as with other morals
10 the FINAL hour-the ruling passion proved
strong in death. Being interrogalrd as to his
feelings and hopes 10 prospect, Of impending
dissolution, h. said that be experienced neither
hope nor fear in the contemplation of the great
hereafter. He was not afraid TO die, and des-
red TO live only that he light be able 10 prove
the supremacy Of his art in the suhjugation of
the snake hich had bitten him. That accom-
plished he cared neither how nor when the in
evitable summons came.
When first bitten, he had been induced, by
the persuasion OF others, TO swallow small
antidote in cases Of poison ing by the bite OF a
snake. But no enlreaty could prevail on him
either to repeat the remedy or apply other spe
cifics known to medical science. He had un-
bean and should that fail TO cure him, he felt
persuaded that it was tated for him then and
there 10 die, in despite Of all human aid TO save
him.
BY this time the virus had produced its most
fearful effects upon The system. The pain which
he endured became agonizng in the extreme.
His sight grew dim, his pulse sank 10 fifty fee
bic beats per minute, alternate fushes OF heat
aad cold passed over his body, his articulation
became thick and lndistinct, and both the palor
and the stupor of death seemed TO be rapidly
spreading over both mind and body. Unable
longer TO walk or even sit erect, he had fallen
PROSTATE upon the floor, and was lifted by the
bystanders and placed upon low couch, in one
corner Of The baT-room of the hotel, to die
Fortunately his reason remained undisturbed,
and he continued TO bite off and swallow por-
tions Of the Cedron bean, which, be still belize
we'd and asserted, had power to save him. As
yet it had produced no perceptible effects To
all appearance the poison was steadily enroach-
ing upon the citadel Of life, which seemed al
ready tottering beneath It's furious assault,
Several gentlemen of the medical profession
who where present as spectators, now interpo-
sed and begged to be permitted 10 use other re-
medieS as the patient himself could no, fail to
see that his own antidote had faed Reused
from his stupor BY the dlscredit thus attempted
TO be thrown upon his bean, the apparently dy-
ing man repelled, with vehement gesture and