West-Jersey pioneer., 1865-03-04
A Marvellous Snake Story.

we copy INC IolioWiuS aCcounG VI d
strange event, happening in the State of
Delaware, from an old magazine publish
ed in Philadelphia, in 1775, politely loan
ed us by friend. 1t is vouched for by
respectable physician, but it approx
mates the marvellous: =
A certain Daniel Norwood, we'll known
in this county, who lived not far from In
dian river, after. having been in drum
ken frolic, to which he was too much ad-
dicted, and having looked very weak, fe
verish, yellow, and emaciated for con-
siderable time before, was taken one morn
ing last mouth with most violent vomit-
ing, which his wife hearing did not quick
ly run to his assistance, thinking it only
a punishment of excessive drinking; tho
pity at last prevailed but before she had
reached the bed, he had vomitted up a
pretty large snake, on which he lay stu
pid or unable to speak. The snake seen
by others as well as his wife, was Of the
kind called here the red bellied snake !;
on measuring the part of the tongs which
they assured me answered to its thick
ness, found it two inches and ,,one tenth
in circumference the length was not
given me with any exactness but it was
well proportioned as the same sort of
snakes are its head was broad and large,
its belly red and its back brown. The
snake was lively after its grand effort in
forcing its way to lightand liberty, though
it knew not well how to fly and hide from
sight, yet when touched by a broomstick,
it clasped round it, SO that they carried it
to rivulet at hand, and could give no
moreaccount oft; to my disappointment,
as I would most gladly have procured it,
to preserve it as curiosity. But poor
Norwood never recovered it; he died two
days after, without acquainting any physi-
clan.
This example has convinced every body
here in an opinion, which, though have
been opposing these twenty years, I am al
most now ready to adopt, viz: That men
or other creatures bit by snakse, provided
the poison is permitted to pass through
them at all, though by medicine restored
to life, yet will, in process. of time, have
snake of the very same kind, color, spots,
shape, &C., growing to, and fed by his
liver. For Mr.. Norwood had been bit by
red-bellied snake, exactly Of the same
sort, between his eyes, when he was a
little boy, as he was STOPPING among the
vines, and gathering cucumbers. The
poison had not been well cured he con-
tinued in poor state of health, i'll
colored, and as though he had visceral
obstructions for a whole year, though
taking some prescriptions of Doctor
Davy's, here at the time. [ suppose the
virtues of the juice of hoarhound and
plaintain were not then known, which |
think never fail in snake bites.
On contest, long before my time in
Sufex, among some curious old men,
among whom were the chief fjustices Ryves
Holt, William Tell, Joseph Standard
Esq, &c. (from some Of whom l had
the story, Whether snakes grow to thu
livers of animals bitten By thens9 They
wisely resolved to make the experiment
on dog. They found an cid dog, which
was known to kill snakes wherever he
found them, which, nevertheless, of his
prudence and address in that art, very Of
ten had bit him, and made him very sick,
though in time he would recover again
and like gallant soldier, return to the
charge when he had an opportunity. Tt
this hardy veteran, on day appointed
for the experiment, before many witnesses
they gave his quietus; and on the most
careful examination, they found some Of
almost every sort of snake known in this
part Of the world, as many Of each as they
supposed had actually bit him, adherine
by their mouths to his liver, SO that all
present were perfectly satisfied of the fact
Let the cause, manner, or instruments,
&C., be described by him who is able.
Whether these and many other difficult
ties will not tend to weaken the beautiful
orary system? WHAT'S the nature Of the
semen serpentiunss Whether it does moi
appear strange that an exasperated snake
should procreate race like itself, from
its bag of poison, attenuated by madness,