The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-02
CURED OF RArTLEsNAKE BITE.
A Simple Remedy that Is Said to DC
the Business hvery Time,
From the Port JerUis Gazette.

From the Port JerUis Gazette.
Alden Davis Of Damascus, in Wayne
county, Pa, was bitten a few evenings
| since by rattlesnake in the ball of his
thumb. A cord was fastened tightly around
the thumb to stop the movement of the
blood from the region of the wound to other
parts of the body. Young Davis was then
taken as quickly as possible to the office of
DIR. Kemp, at Callcoon depot. Having
seen in newspaper a few years since de
scription Of the remedy for rattlesnake
bites as used by the Geer family at Long
Eddy, n. Y, D.. Kemp made careful in
vestigation of the matter, and became con
WINGED of the truth of the statement therein
made, and that the remedy was indeed all
that was claimed for it, He therefore adj
vised young Davis to drive to John Geer's
as quickly as possible, but first to partake
freely OF rye whisky. A bottle of this
liquor was obtained, and the horses head
turned to the direction Of Long Eddy, dis.
tant eleven miles.
1t was now late in the night, and, as the
moon was down, very dark The road was
a rough one, but by careful and as rapid
driving as possible the dwelling Of John
Geer, the famous ratlesnake catcher, was
re 'ched bfore daylight. By this time, in
spite of the tightly drawn cord around his
thumb, the poison had made its way into the
hand, wrist and arm, which were badly
swollen. Davis had taken but two sma
drinks of liquor, and Geer promptly for
bade the use of more, saying its effect
would be to increase the circulation of the
blood, and thus spread the poison more rap
idly. The effects of the poison seemed not
to be entirely confined to the hand and arm,
but in some way was affec ing the stomach.
He had several severe vomiting spells, after
which he spit blood freely
Fortunately Geer knew right where to
get the violet, a sovereign remedy for the
bite of rattlesnake and, lighting a lon
tern, in five minutes time had Davis eating
its leaves. He then applied salt and indigo
to the wound, first taking off the tightly
drawn cord, which, however, had probably
done good service in preventing the more
rapid spread of the poison. Davis soon be-
gan to feel better. The pain, which was
great when he first came, soon ceased. The
slomach sickness also left him, and lying
down, he slept for an hour, when Geer
awakened him to give him more OF the VIC
let and apply fresh poultice.
AT the end of twelve hours from the time
he came to Mr.. Geers, Davis started to
walk home, though tho swelling had not
yet entirely disappeared. Thinking he
might be kept for several days, he sent his
horse home. Geer gave him a quantity Of
the remedy, cautioned him to walk slowly,
not to go to work, but use the medicine till
the swelling was entirely gone, and assured
him he was safe from all evil effects of the
snake bite as he could wish.
This remedy has been known and used
in this place and vicinity for over eighty
years. 1t was first obtained by Joseph
Geer Johns father from half breed Della
ware Indian named John johnson, who
used in 1870 to occupy hut on the Penn
syivanian side of the river opposite Long
Eddy, and who, for pint of whisky, would
let rattlesnake bite him and then cure him
self with it.
1t is as follows:
Apply to the wound a poultice one-half
each of common salt and indigo, mixed
with cold water, and renew every two
hours Eat freely of the leaves, or drink
often of tea made from them, of variety
Of the blue violet (V sagittata) commonly
! known as the 'arrow-leavedr violet. If the
bite be upon the leg or arm, bind the leaves
in a circle around it above and just below
the swelling. Moisten with cold water a.
often as they get dry from the fever created
by the poison, and renew two or three times
| daV.