The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-23
Rattlssnakes and their Habits.

Ordinarily, the rattlesnake is extremely
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 is 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 three -fourths 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 ex-
cited the creature strikes at the intruder with
the quckness of lightning, and almost sim
utaneously with the sound of the rattle.
The statement that the noise of the rattle
is peculiar, and once heard will never after
ward be mistaken, is emphaticaly denied, the
opionions of those who had frequently heard
the sound "divided as to whether certain
ominous clicking arose from the grasshoppers,
which were there in great numbers, or a
rattlesnake." Contrary to the common be-
lief, the reptile also often leaves its hole
and moves about after shutdown, not seldom
crawling into tents, and even into beds,
during the night. The notion that venomous
snakes do not bite twice in immediate sue
cession is also pronounced erroneous, the
writer mentioning a case where he saw the
rattlesnake strike three times with electric
uuickne8s, each time leaving the marks Of
its fangs on the trousers of the person At
tackled.
But with all its quickness and irritability,
the snake frequently refuses to bite, even
when crowded TO the closest quarters. 1t is
related that often when trod on it fails to
retaliate; and one remarkable instance is
given where gentleman on coming out of
the river Platte after bath, and entirely
naked, sat down upon rattlesnake, and dis
covering his mistake, suddenly resumed his
legs, without suffering any harm beyond a
severe fright. The peculiar odor of the rat
tlesnake 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 to kill
him, the implement will retain the same un-
pleasant smell for months. OOce known, the
odor is always recognizable.
The bite of the rattlesnake, according to
this observers experience, is neither so rap
idly fatal nor so incurable as most people
suppose. OF thirty persons bitten by the
rattlesnake, he states that all recovered but
one, and he lived twelve days after the acct
dent. 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 informed.
Whiskey the writer regards as specific
for the bite of the rattlesnake, and relates
numerous instances which illustrate the won
derful power of this agent when administered
in sufficient quantity. 1t is we'll known to
physicians that persons suffering from dis
eases attended with severe pain will often
tolerate much larger doses of opium or other
narcotic than could otherwise be borne. Per-
sons poisoned by the bite of a rattlesnake
manifest similar tolerance for immense
doses of whiskey, quantities sufficient to make
we'll person stupidity drunk, or even to de-
stroy life, often producing no visible 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 be-
fore it is safe to suspend the administration
of remedy. A quart or more of raw whiskey
is frequently required to bring about this
condition but when once it is attained, no
further danger need be apprehended.
While the rattlesnake is found spread over
large portion cfrNorth America, it is much
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 ly-
ing between the r Grande and the Nueces,
two streams which flow in the same direction
and some sixty or seventy miles apart, is
desert region, literally swarming with poison
Gus serpeuts. "In summer" says our
writer zone cannot go fifty yards in this
locality without seeing rattlesnake. In
other parts of the State the moccasin is the
prevalent snake; while centipedes, scorpions,
tarantulas, and alligatOrs, infest various
localities, aud are each terrible scourge.
All writers have hitherto concurred in
SAYING that rattlesnakes are never met with
at an elevation of more than 5000 feet
above the sea level. The surveying party
of Mr.. Morley killed numbers of them last
year at an elevation of about 5000 feet; it
is added, however that they were never found
SO high before. The mountain snakes pos
sess more vivid colors than their brethren
of the prairie, and of the two are more
dreaded on account of their supposed ferocity.
Scientific Miscellany from April Gallery.