Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-04

IL iS d uISuly popuAdi DCliCi bAae tuC
venom of the rattlesnake is as deadly to
itself and its species, when inoculated with
it, as it is to others; and stories are told
with great gusto of the snake biting itself
fatally, in pure vexation at long continued
tormenting committing most ag-
gravated kind Of suicide. In any but the
interest of science, it were pity to spoil
such an acceptable romance; but science
truths are wonderful enough. There is
no real foundation for the conceit. No
uenonous serpent is injured by the bite of
another, nor by its own. 1t is stated upon
indisputable authority that the cobra of
India, for whose bite no antidote has yet
been discovered, wounds other venomous
bitten. l have known rattlers TO bite each
other with impunity but their venom is
fatal to nOn-venomous kinds. 1t is true
after fruitlessly striking at its tormenter
fatuated that it "strikes wild" snake
will now and then strike itself; and if it
happens to hit the spinal cord-as some
times occurs-Or so near as to injure it, 1t
becomes paralyzed and soon dies. But
tention in the reptile to injure itself. Its
bite is no more injurious to itself than any
other wound of the same size in the same
place. In this conclusion the best in
formed naturalists agree.
A few popular writers have very posi-
lively asserted that rattlesnakes have an
diocrassy SO radical and inveterate that
they will go through fire rather than over
xI,Nr pf In y, tv.a cfrn in,
their pathway. l have never been able to
verify the assertion with any species of
ash attainable in the North; and these
trees have been looked to in vain as afford
ing any antidote to snake-bite, as they
would naturally be expected to do were
there any ground for a statement SO broad
and inexplicable.
OF the peculiar action and effect of
crotalic venom upon the animal system,
minute details would not be of interest,
perhaps, in this place and to non profess
sional reader. Suffice it to say that crota-
line is a narcotic poison when taken into
the blood. 1t may be taken into the
stomach with impunity; but, OF course,
the experimenter must be careful that there
are no excavations in the mouth or throat,
or chaps on the lips, OF carious teeth, etc
i
ing to circumstances and the condition OF
the reptile, as explained above. After it
has begun to be absorbed, the pain of the
swells rapidly and becomes Of a livid,
purplish hue the body bloats and shows
spots of discoloration. Finally, an over
towering lethargy or s'upor supervenes,
much resembling that of an overdose of
kat nd ka
most coma artifcially induced, such as by
fatal if INDUCED in.
is found to be disorganized and the blood
vessels in many places broken away and
run together" The venoms Of some
found to be clotted in the arteries and
larger vessels. But crotaline produces d.
rectly contrary results.
The symptoms resulting from rattle
snakes bite very plainly indicate the
proper treatment. Every effort should be
directed to prevent the absorption of the
crotaline and TO neutralize the effect
of the little which may be alb
sorbed in spite Of us. The rude
but successful treatment practiced on
the pialnS Oh inc Vcel, WucIc sndhc-ultcs
are most often met with, may be cited as
illustrative, If not altogether exemplary.
IF the wound is ON the extremities las is
most commonly the case), and whenever
its locality permits, Ignture is made both
above and below it, drawn as tightly as
possible without liberation, using cord,
handkerchief, strap, or any other convent.
emit fastening, tied around the limb and
twisted with stout stick to the required
tension. The wound, if recent, is then
sucked for awhile, to extract as much as
possible of the crotaline. 1t is then thor
oughly scarified, and dry gun powder rub
bed well into the cuts. Enough of the
powder to cover the scarified surface is
then spread over 1t and fired, the result
being TO leave quite respectable hole, but
heater, and less ragged and bloody than
one would expect. This process is not so
painful as might be supposed. Inthis we
have @ revival Of the Ds0cG-a sort Of eau
terry much in vogue among surgeons Of
past age, although probably never heard
Of by our frontiersmen- In the meantime
the patient IL made to drink heroic
doses" of whisky, or any other alcoholic
stimulant until he shows evident signs Of