New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-26
now RATTLESyAKE VEgOMTS EXTRA orED.
From Forest and Stream.

The snake is seized short distance behind the head
by means or stan T., having az ITS end thong OF
this IS frightened or OOsened. occasion may require
by means OF a string extending up the handle The
cut copied from nature clearly shows this simple in
strument. II has been found necessary not To con-
fine tho snakes head too tightly as otherwise IL can
not be Induced 70 strike. The head being secured
stick having its end covered with absorbent cotton
Is pressed against the snakes mouth and It IS teased
until sufficiently irrated 70 strike its fangs into the
cotton which receives the venom and obviates any
snakes TO strike against saucer the fangS fire.
gucntly brokon of. Generally snake VIII strike three
len apathy. We have in vain cndeavored To procure
glands but this has been Unsuccessful eycept In one
instance unless the snake chlOroformed. and il
this Is done tho reptile generally succumbs within
few days. This fact Is mentioned It has been
learned through the public prints that some expert
mcnters IN nciShborng city have succeeded in squecz
Ing out the venom while tho snake was active.
dviduals varies greatly. From large RATHER. weigh
ing perhaps three or four pounds our first attempt
the reptile had struck three times but IL the process
is repeated every day or two but very small guam
tity is obtained The smaller snakes give much
smaller quantity. The cotton, after having received
rs charge Of venom. was removed from the stick and
washed out carefully IN glycerne, and by measuring
the quantity OF this substance first and then after the
venom las becn added re were able 10 tell accurately
Inc Strength or Inc solution which consisted Of eight
drains OF chemically pure glycerine and dram Of
the venom THIS IS the preparation which was used
In all the experiments and Is called Clycerine-veo
One fact should be stated bearing upon tho uouuar
belief that snahes II Kept from wafer not poison
out water FOR & week two, the quantity Of vonom
was materially smaller than when We allowed then
hce access 10 wafer and that the color Of the veno
which was yellowish- green when no fluid was snrl
Piled. became much tighter in color when tbcv bad
freely drunken. We have never been able In induce
our tattlesnakes 10 eat, although they have been
tempted with variety Of food, but water they con
sumo largely. 49,
When the present supply of rattlers was first 70
ceived. II was very easy TO grasp anv one of
them behind the neck with the snake staff buf cy
perlencc has taught Them that they must do something
AGAINST their Will and now n IS quite difficult TO secure
them and even when secured n s difficult 10 make
them strike In fact. one spec men Is now so tame
mat II NAV DO handled with IMMUNITY and Il e tho
"rtes belief that RATHER II carefully and tenderly
handcd VIII not bite tlc hand that gr2sps H. IL Is
OcNrvcd The MoQu. Indians are aware OF this and II
enables them TO handle with IMMUNITY the vcncmous
snaHcS used n ho!r fearful dance so well described
py captain John G.. BOurAc, L. ) A. MANY perSons
cplo Is harmless for all time or that at least wear
y required To replace the fangs This is an error
Vr t' "tcr has In his possession a RATHER I'm which
inc iangs were twlce replaced after an interval ~
thrce weeks only AZ the RATHER doubtless knoSs
when IN: cOnicnts OF the poison gland Is exb,ust.s
as Il evidenced b. his refusal bite after two or fhre
EFFORTS he probably also knows that II is useless ~
SHOW hight when tho fangs have been removed and
this has been practically tried one OF our snakes
sho confirmed TO col and rattle but no matter how
mnrh teascd ard irrfated, makes attempt 10 bltc
An Interesting fact has been noticed during tbe
poitant to record. n + that the Tattler does not ~
veriably nsc both faqgs in stirling fhs rnnSe,ii
movement OF either side Of tho Jaw beIng o,,ite in
dependent OF tie Other and quite at the wifi M .ho
reptile. The practical bearing OF this point IA thar
occasionally IN snake blic but one puncture will be
found. and doubt might exist IL This was really
duo 10 the scrpent's fangs not Another point OF
interest lies In the fact that II only one fang Il punped
ilto the tissues, the patient viii not have received