The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-08-17
serpents.

The very name tserpent' Is o protection 10
It's owner. The strongest man, when unarmed,
quails In the presence Of the rattle-snake, and
many Of the inferior animals are so peirited with
terror at the sight Of IT, as to fall unresisting be-
tween lie jaws, even when at sufficient distance
for escape they are paralyzed by the presence oi
their tremendous foe, and deprived OF all their
faculties in . manner which appears wholly So
pernatural.
The security Of some serpenu lies IN their
s,rength, which is truly prodigous others possess
almost q sovereign sway, in virtue OF their poison
dAggers; whilst others again, without possessing
either OF these faculties appear to live 10 security
on the character acquired for the tribe BY the few
The terror with which large animals regard
the class as whole, isa protection equally 70 all.
The boa-constricior can sudocate almost The lar
gest quadrupeds by entwining itself around them.
Twisted round tree, the boa awaits In ambus-
eade the arrival Of is fsied victim, which II Inn
mediaisly envelops In lie torturous folds aud
slranges In lie murderous embrace.
The serpent met by Atiilius Regulus between
Carthage and Utica was OF this kind. II strang-
led the soldiers In lie folds and s,ihed them with
iis breath and slime. No dart could pierce Ia
scales, which were as brilliant as brass lie back
was finally broken by an immense fragment ol
rock discharged against II but II still remained
formidable 10 the army, whose cohorts, even
thea, had some difficulty 10 dispaichng H. Ia
skin when sent 70 Romel was found 10 measure
l70 feet 10 length.
The fabled victory Of The infant Hercules is his
cradle over one serpent, and the sirAngulaton 70
death BY another, OF LAGOON and bis sons nrve
as his historical evidence Of the great ari ancient
repuie Of these creatures for powerful, muscular
strength.
The poison apparatus Of venOmoas serpen,s d
q perfectly eficaclous weapon. y consists Of Q
gland on each side Of the bead from which the
polson Z being continually dsiilled, % as 10 al.
ways be brimfal, and ready for execution, and Q
long darRer-like tooth, Gith q canal running
through Ils centre frou root 10 point, Tor the ~
ception and eonveyapce Of the poison 10 the bot
tom OF The wound inflicted BY Il. The fang
ordinarily lie copccaled In the mouth, aud arr
only raised for hostile purpossp and, then, sucl
4 tke excellent construction ofthe whole appara.
tus, thai The very muscle which raises the wea
non aad plunges II into the victim, becomes th'
agsai BY which At the same instant, the poison I
pfopelled from the gland into the wound. tn
canal Of the tooth opens towards the point OBJ
liquely, like the cut Of pen-a disposition whlcl
secures both permanent sharp point 10 the lang
aud patulous onhce for the transmisslon q ~
poison and that the animal shall not b. depfi
we'd BY age or accident q ihl. 'n only as'.nes nc,
Il Il furnished with complete armofy o. soc.
teeth, ffom whence any such LOSES may Be q
The dsssh Of Clsopsssa By means o. 80 adder
brought 10 her by her own dlrssciicns, conceal
ed n fruii and flowers, has rendered ever me
morrhle The venom Of this reptile. Tue exac
speclss employed hy her nilll rsmains undeieE
mined for The effects described by historians .
having been produced in her case are not such .
are olssrved 10 follow The bites Of any specie
known Al the present day. Agony and isvs
usually ptecedc the death arislng from such
canse but u we credit the poet, Cleopatra q
perisnced, OF at least expected 10 experience b
The asple poison, more easy sscapeo ont Of 'hl
world.