The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-02
Snakes.


mouths chiees-incidentally oe snakes gen
crally-whirh is scientific ans interesting.
We make the following extract from this
fine raper as Il specimen OF scientific ana
graphic writing that will be agreeable to the
reader: f...f9.
few DAYS ago.wc passed,a certain spot;
rocky hillside above covered with trees,
undcr5r7,sh, briers, weeds, and old moss
grown logs; Il brisk stream with grass
grown banks below, crossed just here by
an old fence and diiapidatcd water-sate,
massed all around with deposits OF recent
Iluc<ls- A snaky place we thought, and
that instant our eye fell upon ''stal-
wartn copperlead. Inslnctiyely, we
clutched stick, but some one had fore
stalled Us in brusing that fellows head;
he was dead already. On the third
Gay thereafter, strol'lng near that place
again, there was another snake stretched
across the way, moti0nless as stick. dingy,
obscurelg mottled. nothing to attract atten-
ton; even the bead-like eye, dim, unWink-
ing. with its Iack-lustre stare, gives no sign
of malignant vitality. We approach to
within three feet, and stand, stick in band,
but not motion Is visible in any fibre OF
that scaly, sinuous shape. Put forth now
the stick; no motion, no sign; nearer, but
directly in front, within an inch, and still
no sign, no move; lie is. stretched ut full
length, and knows the stick is not within
the fatal circle. Move it to one side now
and pass it along line parallel to the
creatures form and six inches to the
left; still so sign. Place the point
OF the stick on the ground six inches
in rear Of the bead and six inches from the
body. There, with the suddenness OF
lightning, dreadful nearing glareS from
that stony eye, the hidcoGis mouth is open
cd. the terrible fangs protrudc, aud, like
bullet, The stroke is mace. and the fangs, IN
desperate wrath, are buried in the rotten
wood; quick us thought the stroke is re.
pcated.[ Now. every fibre is convulsed with
wrath; the threatening tongue darts forth;
the tail lashes from side to side with fury.
Touch the middle OF It's body with the stick.
INSTANTLY the deadly fang is sunk deep in
the creatures own body; a crop Of grimy
blood uozcs from each OF The fatal pune
lures, and forthwith a writing agony sets
in. Again the maddencd creature bites it.
sell in the midst OF contultionS, frightiul to
witness swelling increases rapidly. One last
roll. and the horrld beast turns belly up; a
sbudd"r undulates along its Scaly length,
and all is still. Let us hold the inquest.
There are the four small runctureS and the
four snail drops OF grumOUS blood. The
swelling continues even after death. The
verdict OF the jury is .teto de sc. Sup
pose," says friend, "you or | bad gotten
that bite? But [ never knew before that
4 snakes bite would poison itsclf.' Why
not poison itself? This copperhcad is truly
Il snake 10 be dreaded. Sit down, friend,
on this rock. There arc no more mere now.
Those were the pair; but their hateful
spawn will not see the light to ihfpSt this
spot in future. We will tell you something
about cOpptrhcad5.
Because Of their dingy colors and their
stony stare, and their Ut
terlv motionless lying in wait, and because
pf the lightning rapidity OF their stroke.
dealt with inevitable certainty the instant
the unwary foot is placed within reach OF
the deadly fanss, few Serpcnts are more TO
be dreaded than this one. The ratllc$nake
is more yenomous, but less dangerous; for
his bright obtrusive colors, his Slistening
eye. bis friendly rattle, serve to give timely
warning Of danger to ear and eye.
Admirable and truthful But while there
is no error in what is said Of the rattle
snake, so far rs concerns his general ma
turc, we must say that there is sometimes
4 failure on his part to give the reEulcd
warning. We have known my Lord OF the
RatlleS, with flashing eye and brave and de-
FAINT air, 10 give no premonition OF his pur-
pose to strike, but strike with Il vindictive-
ness of temper and a vigor OF determine.
ion that suggested the idea that he was de-
crmined that his victim should neither get
In n huI nlt
of shortening the Doctors concluding re-
marks about remedies and the venomous
but such talk is charming TO
Us, and we know it is to other people.
They will thank Us for copying it entire:
The bite of copperhead will scarcely
be fatal 10 the vigorous adult man, even
without treatment; that OF The rattlesnake
will always be fatal under such circum.
stances. The bite OF the comprehend is
nearly or quite certain to prove fatal to a
child or an aged person without prompt
and very ski!ful treatment. Many horses
and cattle are also killed by them. Swine
seem to be defended from their attack by
the thickness of the hide, and sheep appear
to possess an instructive knowledge Of their
presence, and thus escape. Dogs are often
bitten, and we have seen them faint and left |!
for dead, but we believe they always rally, !
and OF the many we have known to be bit |
ten, we never knew one to die. Horses are |
nearly certain to die il bitten by the copper
head on any part OF the body. They seem |
10 be peculiarly sensitive to the effects OF |
this venom. The nature OF this poison is
such that it is most easily neutralized By |
almost any chemical substance which is
brought in contact with il; hence the great
variety OF "curcs" for snullc.Jite Ammo
MIA or other alkali, alcohol, or any acid will
neutrallze this poison. as well rs great va
rlcty OF vegetable substances. Cord the
limb, iheH. above the bite; this will retard
ABSORPTION OF tue poison. A large part of it
may then be drawn out at the wound made
w the langs by means OF 4 cnppng-glass
applied 10 the place, or even by strong
suction with the mouth; the poison beng
harmless in the stomach, as it. is quickly
leufrallzed by the gastric juice when swa-
owed. Take hypodermlc syringe, which
$ made in strict Imitation OF the snakes
)ols0n-fang; bill with ammonia or other
'lknlI, insert the syringe into the wound
made by each fang, push 1t into the cellular
issue where the poison is lodged, and dis
'harSe the neutralizing substance right in
be midst OF the poison. Get some whis-
Key, brandy, or wine; mix with water,
quail parts of each; add to each tumbler-
III @ teas poonful OF ammonia !; give the hui
nan patient tumblerfuI ut time every
ew minutes, or drench the horse with three
r four pints every twenty or thirty min
ties, else he will be dead in from thirty
minutes to three or fourhours.
Horses when grazing are apt to be bitten
bout the throat, and then they soon die
rom suffocation II not relieved. There
houId be no hesitation in opening the