Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-06
INDIAN ARROW poIsoss.

OF the three poisors prepared by the
Moqui of Arizona the first ia called tiki
le-li-wi-poison ointment. Poison given
internally to cause death, whether in pow.
der or liquid, has no definite name beyond
its being "bad medicine. The ''poison
ointment" is prepared in this wise ; A rat
tlesnake is tormented until it bites itself,
when the priest of the "Snake Order"
dips the arrow point, as well as short
portion of the shaft, into the blood OBJ
tanned from the serpent. 1t is stated that
wound from such an arrow will cause
death in three or four days under ordinary
circumstances, and in a much shorter time
if the victim has been fasting for Gay or
two, condition in which an Indian is fire.
quently found even in times OF peace. The
second variety is prepared from the bum
bic bee, which after being maddened by
being disturbed in the nest and struck at
by withes and branches, is killed. The
insects are then gathered and crushed in
primitive stone mortar, where the mass is
thoroughly macerated, after which the ar
rows are apointed in manner similar to
the preceding. Wounds are not liable TO
cause dangerous results, although they be-
come exceedingly infamed and very pain
full, the effects being attributable to the
presence of formic acid. The third variety
is prepared by crushing number OF large
red snts-a variety found all over the north
err elevated aress-in similar manner as
the preceding, and in which the arrows are
dipped. This poison is not necessarily a
fatal one, though instances have been given
on Indian authority" The present writer
has treated wounds by this insect in sev-
eral instances, when great constitutional
distur Dances resulted in a short time, fol-
lowed by Inflammation in an aggravated
form and sometimes accompanied by de.
lirium. The Apaches occupying the habi-
table areas of Arizona, Immediately south
of the Moqui Pueblos, prepare poison
composed OF the venom OF the rattlesnake
mixed with the decomposed liver Of deer
or antelope. The modus operandi could
not be ascertained in detail, though it is
probable that the method may be similar to
that formerly practiced by the Teton Da-
kota, among whom the writer has wit
messed the ceremony. A rattlesnake was
searched for at one of the prairie-dog
towns, and when discovered was secured
to the ground by means of forked stick
so IS to prevent its escape and yet not In.
lure it. An assistant would then pierce
deer's liver, which had been procured
for the purpose, and upon inserting short
pole would thrust it toward the serpent
who would repeatedly bury it's fangs. In
this manner the venom was secured, and
when the snake refused to bite again it
was DESTROYED. The liver was then placed
upon a tall upright pole where it was al
lowed to decompose, after which it was
crushed in a small dish, when the arrows
were dipped into the mass and allowed to
dry. Poisoned arrows were carried IN
double quivers and tied together with
black band or piece of cloth to distinguish
them from the harmless ones. Serpent
venom was employed by the Siris of west
ern Sonora. After small excavation had
been made in the ground, cows liver was
introduced, together with centipedes, scor-
pions and rattlesnake, After teasing
these creatures for while with the hope
that the liver might receive most OF the
venom discharged during their angry strug-
gle, it was removed and crushed into a
ieliy, into which the arrows were dipped
Apache arrows which have been properly
besmeared with poison are readily distin.
guished from the ordinary weapons by the
dark reddish brown coating over the ante
of the arrow. head. The latter also pre-
sents the same appearance at times, though
were this the only portion to which poison
had been applied there would be no Diff
Guilty in Identification, as the arrow points
are generally secured to the end OF the
shaft by the liberal application of mesquite
gum, after which the sinew threads are ap-
piled for greater security. The Pah. U tes,
| lust south of the Shosnones, remove the
heart of large mammal and place it into
a corresponding cavity in the ground. Rat
tlesnake fangs. with the poison sacs, are
then ground into q pulp, with horned
toad or two, which mass is then emptied
into the cavity of the heart and allowed to
decompose. The whole mass is said to dry
into tough mass resembling caoutchouc.
This is finally cut into small pieces. In
poisons prepared by the combination OF
serpent venom and decomposed organic mat
ter it is not positively known which, If not
both, of the substances acts as the toxic
agent. Cases thus far observed or recorded
have resulted in septicemia and death.
| One in particular, a mere scratch upon the
shoulder blade, died in great misery in less
than a week, though not before the flesh
had literally dropped from the back as far
down as the hips. 1t is probable that the
septic poison Of The organic matter remains
active for greater period of time than the
serpent venom, being favored BY immsdi.
ate drying in the drier atmosphere Of the
extreme western plateaus. DR.. S. Wier
Mitchell's experiments do not demonstrate
to what length of time serpent venom may
be kept in dried state and retain it's viz.
ulence. The active principle (crotaline,
may remain active under favorable condi
tons for an indefinite length of time, but
then the symptoms would be exhibited in
a manner strikingly similar to those after :
fresh wound inflicted by the serpent, which
thus far has not been observed. Prof. F
Y. Hayden and Col. James Stevenson have
both observed the Blackfeet and Assini
boine Indians procure the pure serpent
venom by causing secured snake to bit'
a clean piece of bark. The arrows wer,
applied directly to this without the admix
ture of any other substances. New Yori
Herald.