The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-17
VOL. xxI.-NO. 20.

proceed, but his hind quarters sagged and
refused to move. | approached. His
eyes were bloodshot, fixed, and staring,
hair erect, lips retracted, and tongue pro-
truding. His respiration was labored and
irregular, and he emitted cry that was
half moan, half howl, as with mingled pain
and terror. Suddenly he went into con-
vulsion, which REQUIRED at short intervals
for twelve minutes, when he died. Cats be-
haved more violently, frothing at the
mouth and giving vent to terrible cries,
death not coming to their relief for thirty
minutes or more.
On frogs the effect was electric; the luck
less batrachians simply stretched out, quiv-
cred, and yielded up the ghost. A gold
fish turned belly up in four minutes, and
in eleven minutes was dead. Asrattlesnake
was dosed, and after eight minutes of active
contortions gave but feeble signs of life for
one hour and ten minutes, and then was
still Post mortem examination showed
an auemic condition of the brain and an
engagement of the ventricle with dark
clots, but no other signs Applying the
stethoscope to dog strapped down and
punctured, found the action of the heart
to be at first violent, but regular, and then
irregular and weak Four drops, admins
tered to dog internally, seemed to have
marked sedative effect, but the symptom
soon passed away. was encouraged by
this into taking one drop myself, diluted
largely with water and taken through a
tube. l fancied there was slight increase
and irregularity of heart action, and GER
tainly muscular relaxation sufficient to pro-
duce marked perspiration, but the effect
was temporary If this experiment should
be repeated, would caution the expert
menter to be sure he has no abrasion on lip,
tongue, or palate, and that his teeth and
gums are sound, or he may have to record
symptoms not in the above catalogue of
my experience.
1 concur in the belief that, admitted to
the circulation, rattlesnake virus paralyzes
the heart, but 1 believe the effect is first
rather cerebral than directly cardiac. l
have no doubt embolism occurs in many
cases where the poison has reached large
vein and is carried directly to the heart,
exercising its coagulant power there; but
this is the exception, and not the rule At
all events. ammonia is indicated, and, in
conjunction with a liberal use of alcohol, [
believe it to be the best remedy which can
be applied. To lance the wound promptly,
after tightly binding the injured limb above
the wound, would be eficacious in lessen
ing the danger; but in any case whisky and
ammonia in small doses, frequently repeat
ed, will be necessary resort.
| have seen the Apaches on the Tulerosa
Reservation, in New Mexico, take deer's
liver, induce rattlesnake to strike it re-
peatedly, allow it to get putrid, and then
smear their arrow heads with it, but unless
freshly used the virus so applied would
have no effect Exposed to air, it quickly
looses its properties, particularly when in
contact with serum or fbrin.
In quantity, the venom injected by
large and active rattlesnake is about four
minims, or two for each fang. He can
strike twice or thrice in rapid succession
with deadly effect, but soon the glands are
unable to keep up their supply, and evil
require some minutes to recuperate. Snake
charmers usually scar the glands with hot
iron, leaving the fangs intact, but only ca
pable of making a slight fesh-wound.
Too much care cannot be exercised in dis
secting rattlesnake's head, for the glands
secrete for sometime after death, and little
of the virus goes long way.
During the hot days of August and Sep
tember, the rattlesnake is indolent and very
i'll tempered This is the season when they
are supposed to be blind, but it is laziness,
and not ophthalmia, which induces them to
wait till they are trodden upon before NOV
ing. This is also the time when they lie
in the grass near streams to avoid heat and
waylay the froicsome frog. I suppose
trout fishermen know this, for notice they
always carry bottle of antidote
In New Mexico and on the Staked
Plains in Texas, where the nights are cool,
it is the rattlesnake's sociable custom to
crawl between travellers blankets and
snuggle close to him till morning. Num-
bers of them are killed in camp every year
by soldiers camping in that section; but as
the rattlesnakes never abuse hospitality by
biting the sleeper, few accidents happen.
Still, there are men who, when out on
hard march, prefer to sleep alone.