Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-31
DISARMING A RATTLESNAKE
ChIOrOfOrmed and His Fangs
Pulled Outin the Interest
OF Science.

The Philadelphia Times allows its
Washington correspondent to talk in
the following blood-curdling manner
concerning snakes:
Il assisted in a snake killing, on
Wednesday in the laboratory Of the
Smithsonian Institution. | was very
glad to be called on by Mr.. Rhees for
this purpose-frst, because the killing
was supposed to be in the interest Of
science, to which | am warmly de-
voted; second, because | hate snakes;
aud third, because there was no dan.
ger. A rattlesnake, eight feet long,
had arrived at the institute. A dozen
gentlemen, mostly of a scientific turn
of mind like myself, we're present.
The box was placed on the floor and
all had an opportunity to view the
monster before the entertainment be-
gan. His rattle was sticking straight
up and trembling with warning. His
nose resting on his tail and his cold
eyes setting back in his head had an
awful look. His body, | should think,
was fifteen inches in circumference
His head was about the size of a kit
tens and the spread of his jaw was
enormous. Everything being in read.
mess, three scientists at once began
operations. The sliding lid was
u%nscrewed. One Of the coat
less men had a stick with a sponge a,
big as an apple tied to it, and a bottle
Of chlorofOrm. Another had a pair O.
long pincers, while the other acted al
the snakes doorkeeper. The lid wal
slowly moved back a little and the
end Of the pincers we're inserted il
the aperture. Bump, bump, bump
went the snakes head against the tot
Of his box, and the tail sang a merrl
song. The man with the pincer
knew what he was about, and eau
tiously he thrust his pincers in. Snap
and everybody shuddered. Then
what rafting, what twistingl |
seemed as if the reptile would burs
his slender cage. How he pulled an,
coiled and writhedl But the pincer
man was strong, and in a second o
two the snakes nose was through tn
aperture. The lid man was ceol, an,
watched sharp that a larger opeuin
was not forced than was necessary
Finally the cold eyes came out, an,
plump! his whole head was out Of tn
q box, and the pincers held his nee
! like a wise. How he writhed and rat
ted Quick as lightning the ma
with the sponge and bottle was dom
e his part. He poured the chloroforr
upon the sponge aud jammed tn
sponge in the monsters great re-
mouth. The mouth closed and il wa
forced open again and more c~hloroforr
r put into it Then the pincers ma.
S with his left hand seized the rep
tile by the neck aud released the pin
GERS, which fell with a rattle on th
d stone floor. 1t was not a pretty sigh
e a man holding a monster by the throa
! whose bite was instant death, but h
e held him nevertheless, for it was i
the interest of science. Then NOR
r c%hloroform was poured into him. A
G about this time everybody was prett
well excited but the pincers man. II
very coolly took a small pair of pincer
from the table, put his head down 5
: he could see, and with the little pir
y GERS he pulled out the big fangs 9th
j. reptile, and laid them n after ar
e other on a white sheet Of paper. The
were nearly an inch long. By thi
time the snake did not seem particr
larly interested in science or anythin
else, so they pulled him out Of h
box and Strengthened him on the foo
the piucers man kept his grip at th