Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-04-25
Rattlesnakes and Their Habits.

Rattlesnakes and Their Habits.
Ordinarily, the rattlesnake is ex-
tremely sluggish, and unless molested
there is little to fear from it during the
greater portion of the year. just before
and just after its winter sleep, however,
it it more active, and often assumes the
offensive. In order to strike, it must lie
in close coil, with its head and neck
erect. In this position it throws itself
forward about threefourths its length,
supporting its weight entirely upon the
remaining fourth. When molested or
alarmed, or when about to attack, the
rattle is violently shaken; but practically
this serves little purpose as warning,
since when excited the creature strikes at
the intruder with the quickness of light.
ming, and almost simultaneously with the
sound of the rattle. The statement that
the sound of the rattle is peculiar, and
once heard will never afterward be mis-
taken, is emphaticallY denied, the writer
averring that he has known the opinions
of those who had frequently heard the
sound divided as to whether a certain
ominous clicking arose from the grass.
hoppers, which were there in great mum.
bers, or a rattlesnake" Contrary to the
common belief, 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 that
venomous snakes do not bite twice in
immediate succession is also pronounced
erroneous, the writer mentioning a case
where he saw the rattlesnake strike three
times with electric quickness, each time
leaving the marks of its fangs on the
trousers of the person attacked.
But with all its quickness and irritabil.
ity, the snake frequently refuses to bite
even when crowded to the closest quarters
1t is related that often when trod on il
fails to retaliate; and one remarkable in
stance is given where gentleman or
coming out of the river Platte after {
bath, and entirely naked, sat down upor
a rattlesnake, and, discovering his mis-
take, suddenly resumed his legs, withou
suffering any harm beyond a severe
fright. The peculiar odor of the rattle
snake is vouched for, and we are tol(
that when one is irTitated and made Il
bite the rake or hoe with which it is in
tended to kill him, the implement will re
tain the same unpleasant smell fo
months. Once known, the odor is alway
recognizable.
The bite of the rattlesnake, according
to this Observers experience, is neithe
so rapidly fatal nor so incurable as mos
people suppose. OF thirty persons bittel
by the rattlesnake, he states that all re
covered but one, and he lived twelve day
after the accident. OF the whole thirt,
this was the Only case which received SUI
gical advice; but whether it was the bit
or the advice which killed the patient W
are not informed.
Whisky the writer regards as specifi
| for the bite of the rattlesnake, and re
| lates numerous incidents which illustrat
the wonderful power of this agent whel
administered in sufficient quantity. 1t i
well known to physicians that person
suffering from diseases attended wit
severe pain will often tolerate muc
larger doses of opium or other naIcoti
than could otherwise be borne. Person
poisoned by the bite of rattlesnak
manifest a similar tolerance for immens
doses of whisky, quantities sufficient t
make a well person stupidity drunk, o
even to destroy life, often producing n
visible effect upon the sufferer from snake
bite. Yet, to be of any service to tn
patient, it is asserted that he must b
made thoroughly drunk before it is saf
to suspend the administration of th
remedy. A quart or more of raw whisk
is frequently required to bring about thi
condition, but, when once it is attained
no further danger need be apprehended
While the rattlesnake is found sprea
over a large portion of North America,
is much more abundant in some local
ties than in others. Texas probabl
holds an indefinitely larger number G
these reptiles than any other State in tn
Union. The district lying between tn
Rio Grande and the Nueces, two stream
which flow in the same direction an
some sixty or seventy miles apart, is
desert region, literally swarming wit
our writer, zone can not go fifty yard
in this locality without seeing rattle
snake. In other parts of the State tn
moccasin is the prevalent snake; Will
centipedes, scorpions, tarantulas and all
gators infest various localities and ar
each terrible scourge"
All writers have hitherto concurred i
saying that rattlesnakes are never me
with at an elevation of more than 900
feet above the sea level. The surveyin
party of Mr.. Morley killed numbers {
them last year at an elevation of abor
5000 feet; it is added, however, that the
were never found so high before. TIL
mountain snakes possess more vivid co
ors than their brethren of the prairie
and of the two are more dreaded o
account of their supposed feroclty.-
Scientific MISCELLANY IN April GALAXY.