The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-18
r. AITLEsNiK AND THEIR
HARITS.

i0moiy oiuSStoui ouu uuieSe moiooteu
there is little to fear from it during the
greater portion Of the year Just before
and just after its winter sleep, however
it is more active, and often assn mes the
offensive. In order to strike, it must
lie in close coil, with its b cad and neck
erect. In this position it throws itself
forward about three-fourths OF it's length,
supporting its weight entirely upon the
remaining fourth. When molested or
alarmed, or when about to attack, the
rattle is violently shaken; but practi-
cslly this serves little purpose AS a
warning, since when excited the creature
strikes al the intruder with the quick.
ness OF lightning, and almost simulta-
neously with the sound Of the rattle
The statement that the noise Of the rat.
tie is peculiar, and once heard will never
afterwards be mistaken, is emphaticslly
denied. the writer averring teat be has
known the opinions OF those who had
frequently heard the sound divided as
to whether certain ominous cllnking
arose rom the gra-shoppers, which
were there in great numbers, or rat
tlesnake." Contrary to the common
belief, the reptile also often leaves its
hole and moves about alter shutdown,
not seldom crawling into tents, aud even
into beds, during the night. The notion
that venomous snakes do not bite twice
in immediate succession is slsO pro-
nounced erroneous, the writer mentioned
q case where he saw the rattlesuake
strike three times with electric quick
ness, each time leaving the marks OF
its tangs on the trousers OF the person
attacked.
But with all its quickpess md irrita-
biilty, the snake frequently refuses to
bite, even when crowded to the closest
quarters. 1t is related that often when
trod on it tails to retaliate; and one
remarkable instance is given where a
gentleman in coming out OF the river
Platte after a bath, and entirel y naked,
sat down on a ratllesnake, aud discover
ing his mistake suddenly resumed hls
legs, without suffering any harm beyond
a severe fright. The peculiar odor OF
the rattleenake is vouehe ed for, and we
are told that when one is irrl,ated and
made to bite the rake or hoe with
which it is intended to kill him, the
implement will retain the same I'M
pleasant smell Tor months. Once known
the odor is always recognizable.
The bite OF the rattlesnake, according
to this Observers experience, is neither
so rapidly fatal nor so incurable as
most people suppose. OF thirty persons
bitten by the rattlesnake, h. states that
all recovered but one, and he lived
twelve days after the accident. OF the
whole thirty, this was the only case
which received surgical advice; but
whether it was the bite or the advice
that killed the patient We are not in,or-
med.
WhIskey the writer regards as
specific tor the bite OF the rattlesnak
aud relates numerous instances which
illustrate the wonderful power of this
ageut when administered in sufficient
quautity. 1t is well known to physicians
that persons suffering from diseases at.
tended with severe pain will often
tolerate much larger doses of opium or
other narcotic than could otherwise be
bOrue. Persons poisoned by the bite
OF rattlesnake manifest similar toll
ersnce tor immense doses OF whiskey,
quantities sufficient to make q well
person stupidity drunk, or even to destroy
lite often producing no effect upon the
sufferer from snake bite. Yet, to be Of
any service to the patient, it is asserted
that he must be made thoroughly drunk
before it s safe to suspend the admlnS
letration OF the remedy. A quart or
more OF raw whlskey is frequently re-
quired to bring about this condition
tut ouce it is attained, no further dan
ger need be apprehended.
While the rattlesnske is found spread
over large portion Of North America,
It is more abundant in some localities
than in others. Texas probably holds
an infinitely larger proportion Of these
reptiles than any other State In the
Union. The district lying between the
Rio Grande and the h ueces, two streams
which flow in the same direction and
some sixty or seventy miles apart, is
desert region, literally swarming with
poisonous serpents. I'm summer,
saws our writer, lone cannot 60 fifty
wards in this locality without seeing
rattlesnake. In other parts OF the
State the moccason is the prevailing
snake, while centipedes, scorpions,
tarsutulas, and s!ligators infest vari-
Gus localities, and are each a terrible
scourge." j,
All writers have hitherto conquered
in saving that rattlesnakes are never
met with at an elevation o. more than
{, 1000 teet The surveying party Of Mr..
Morley killed numbers OF them last
wear at 40 elevation al about 5000 feet;
il is added, however, that they were
never found 80 high before The noun
tain snakes possess more vivid colors
than their brethren OF the prslries, and
of the two are more dreaded on account
OF their supposed MISUNDERSTANDING
MISCELLANY from April GALAXY.