The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-05-29
aAA1r.r1LlssaKiEs Sd AT4Ei1bK hi j HA All i Irs

Ordinarily he rattiesnake Is ex-
treinely sluggish, aud unless Inolested
there is iirrfe 10 lfeafu from 1t tIduring
the greater portion of the yearu iJnst
| before and alter its winter sleep, how
| ever, it is more active, and often as
snnies the Offensive. In iorderto Strike
\ ii must lie in aiiclose coil, with it's
mead and neck erect. In this position
it throws itself forward about three
I fourtiis Of its length, supporting it's
iwefsht entirety upon the Remaining
lfourth. loiius) ano Goi pH,biyuGQ
When Ip,0leste ed or alarmed, or
when about to attack, the rattle is viO-
t1aht1yh shaken Bdtn practically this
serves little purpose as sl,aiiwarHillg,
since when excited the creature strikes
|. It the intruder with The Quickness of
.ightnihg, ana almost simultaneous
| ly with i1lAe" sound iOf the rat
llele, a The statement that the sound
of the rattle is peculiar, and once
heard will never 'aitefward be mis-
taken, is emphatiealfg denied the
writer averring hat he has known the
opinions OF those who had frequently
neard the sound "divided as TO Wfeth-
er certain ominous clicking arose
from the grasshoppers, which were
there in great numbers, or a rattle
snake" Contrary 20 the common be-
lief, the reptile often leaves its hole
and moves about after sundown, not
seldom crawling into tents, and even
into beds, during the night.
The notion thtt venomous snakes
do not bite twice in Immediate sue
cession j. also pronounced erroneous,
the writer mentioning, . case where
de saw tue rattlcsnake strike three
zines with electric quickiless, each
time leaving the marks of its fangs on
,he trousers of the person attacked.
But with all its quickness and irri-
liability, the snake frequently refuses
60 bite, even when crowded to the
closest quarters. 1t is related that
often when trod on il fails 10 retaliate;
md one remarkable instance is given
where gentleman on coming out OF
the river Platte, after bath and ell
.irely naked, sat down upon q rattle
make, and, discovering his mistake.
suddenly resumed his legs without
suffering any harm beyond a. severe
fright. 49iT susnt.... WOO dsls spH
The peculiar odor of the rattlesnake
is vouched for, and we are told that
when one is irritated and made TO
bite the rake or hoe with which it is
intended 10 kill him, the implement
will retain the same unpleasant smell
for months. Once known the odor il
tlways recognizable. Faa isairl '5h Z
The bite ot the rattlesnakes accord
ing 10 the observers experience, is
heither so rapidly fatal nor SO incura-
Die as most people suppose. Ofthirty
persons bitten by the rattlesnake, he
hs,f
1e lived twelve. days after the acci-
lent. OF the whole thirty, this was
the only case which received surgical
ldvice; but whether it was the bite or
the advice that killed the patient, we
are not informed. 5g II .l.iha - e,lo. .lj
m Whiskey the writer regards. as a
specific for the bite of the rattlesnake,
md relates numerous instances which
illustrate the wonderful power of this
agent when administered in sufficient
quantity. tits well known to- physi-
,;ians that persons suffering from. dis
Ease attended with severe pain will
)ften tolerate much larger doses of
opium or other narcotic than could
otherwise be borne. Persons poison
ed by the bite 'ofa rattlesnake mani
fest similar tolerance for immense
loses of whisky, quantities sufficient
to make well person stupidity drunk,
lr even to destroy lie, often produc-
ing no visible effect upon the sufferer
from snakebitc. Yet, to be of any
service to the patient, it is asserted
that he must be made thoroughly
Trunk before it is safe to suspend the
administration of the remedy. ai 1o
LA quart or more of raw whiskey is
frequently required to bring about
this condition but when once it is at
tanned, no further danger need be ap-
pretended .,,.,s,as.i .,., s.,,,s,,.,.,
While 4he rattlesnake is found
spread over a large portion of, North
ia some localities than in others.
Texas probably holds an infinitely
larger portion of these reptiles than
any other State in the Union The
district lying between the Rio Grande
and the Neuces, two streams which
flow in the same direction and some
sixty or seventy miles apart, is des-
ert region, literally swarming with
poisonous serpents. . In, summer"
saws our writer, zone cannot go fifty
Yards in this locality without seeing
while centipedes, scorpi-
ons, tarantulas, and alligators infest in
various localities, and are each a ter
,ible, scourge." ....f,o. go e,aan.
Ali writers have hitherto concurred
IN saying that rattlesnakes are never
net with at an elevation OF more than
1000; feet above the sea levels The
surveying party of Mr. Morley killed
numbers OF them last year at an ele-
,ation OF about 5000 feet it is added
however, that they were never found
10 high before. The mountains snakes
possess more vivid colors than their
brethren of the prairies, and of the
wo are more dreaded on account OF
eirsupposed ierocity.9ibea asT
D 1wHAT AGE OANNor sTALI.a ni :