Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-03-27
Rattlesnakes and their Habits.

lEeluely Sluggish, anu uilleSS mOleoteu
there is little to fear from it during the |
greater portion of the year. Just be-
fore 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 posi-
ton 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 vio-
lently shaken; but practically this
serves little purpose as warning,
since when excited the creature strikes
at the intruder with the quickness of
lightning, and almost simultaneously
with the sound of the rattle. The
statement that the noise of the rattle is
peculiar, and once heard will never
afterward be mistaken, is emphatical-
ly denied, the writer averring that he
has known the opinions of those who
had frequently heard the sound ''di-
| vided as to whether a certain ominous
clicking arose from the grasshoppers,
which were there in great numbers, or
a rattlesnake." Contrary to the COM
mon belief, the reptile also often leaves
its hole and moves about after sun
down, 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 writ
er 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 irrita-
bility, 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 a
gentleman on coming out of the river
Platte after bath, and entirely naked,
sat down upon rattlesnake, and dis
covering his mistake suddenly resum-
ed his legs, without suffering any
harm beyond severe fright. The
peculiar Odor of the rattlesnake is
volched 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 unpleasant smell for months
, Once known, the odor is always re-
cognizable. f7-'
The bite of the rattlesnake, according
to this Observers experience, is neither
so rapidly fatal nor SO incurable al
most people suppose. OF thirty per
sons bitten by the rattlesnake, he states
that all recovered but one, and he LIVED
twelve days after the accident. Of tht
whole thirty, this was the only cast
y, which received surgical advice; bu
whether it was the bite or the advice
killed the patient we are not informed
Whisky the writer regards as {
specific for the bite of the rattlesnake
and relates numerous instances which
illustrate the wonderful power of thi
agent when administered in sufficien
20 quantity. 1t is we'll known TO physi
clans that persons suffering from dis
eases attended with sever pain will
;. often tolerate much larger doses O
!, opium or other narcotic than coult
otherwise be borne. Persons poisoned
> by the bite of a rattlesnake manifest
similar tolerance for immense doses o
whisky, quantities sufficient to make
. well person stupidity drunk, or even t
!, destroy life, often producing mo visibl
u effect upon the sufferer from snakebite
Yet, to be of any service to the patient
). it is asserted that he must be mad
thoroughly dunk before it is safe t
e suspend the administration Of tn
i remedy. A quart or more of ray
whisky is frequently required to brin:
about this conditions: but when once i
e is attained, no further danger need b.
e apprehended. 1' 90
r While the rattlesnake is found spread
over large portion of North America
i it is much more abundant in some 10
+ calities than in others. Texas probabl.
y holds an infinitely larger proportion o
: these reptiles than any other State il
: the Union. The district lying between
r the Rio Grande and the Nueces, tive
d streams which flow in the same direc
q ton and some sixty or seventy mile
!. apart, is desert region, literally
swarming with poisonous serpents.-
"In summer" says our writer, som
cannot go fifty yards in this localit!
! without seeing rattlesnake. In Othe
parts of the State the moccason is th'
: prevalent snake; while centipedes
E scorpions, tarantulas, and alligators in
e fest various localities, and are each .
terrible scourge."
All writer's have hitherto concurret
in saying that rattlesnakes are never
1 met with at an elevation of more thar
! 5000 feet above the sea. level. The
!, surveying party of Mr.. Morley killed
numbers af them last year at an eleva
I ton of about 5000 feet; it is added
however, that they were never found
so high before. The mountain snakes
possess more vivid colors then theil
brethren of the prairies, and of the tive
are more dreaded ON account of thei
: supposed ferocity.-ScieratDfc Miscet
!. Tang. from april GALAXY.
=, ,,,ho oEfha I on1nn Tonont 60 VIC