Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-29
MISSED BY A RATHER.
An Incident Recalled by Dr. Conklin
 Now Yorl's Monagerfe.

An Incident Recalled by Dr. Conklin of
 Now York's Monagerie.
 VI would rather treat almost any sick animal in the world than sick snake" said pr. Conklin, the superintendent of the Central Park menagerie to a New Ycek Sun reporter the other day 'tNot that I mind handing a snake particularly, but on account of the accidents that are likely to happen.
 "A few years ago." continued the doctor, 1T had an experience in treating a sick boa constructor that will last me until the end of my life. We had at that time a big cage of boa constructors and several poisonous snakes as well in the lion house. Very often snakes mouth becomes sore, and 1t IS necessary to rub medicines be- tween its jaws to save it's life. One of our constructors was afflicted this way. I pre- pared some medicine and went into the house one night with new attendant we had just hired. This young mans name was Joe, and he had been Q snake perform CT with travelling menagerie The sides of the cage were of glass, as they are now, and inside were about forty snakes of all kinds. There were dozen big constric- tors, python or two, and a score of rat tiers, moccasins and copperheads. As Joe began rattling the door of the cage the in- mates woke up, and when they saw the light they were ready for fight. The sick snake lay at the other end of the cage. The usual way in such cases is to throw 0 rope moose over the snakes neck and drag him to the cage door. Then his head is drawn out and covered with meal bag or piece of carpet. After that it is easy enough to catch him back of the head, press open his jaws, and rub in the medicine This was done up to the point where his head should have been drawn out through the door, The rattlers and other small snakes were twisted together in squirming tangle in the upper end of the cage. and the sick constructor was threshing his big tail about like dying whale.
 "'Ill go inside, Mir. Conklin,' said Joe, sand give it to him there. I ain't afraid of any snake that ever crawled.'
 "Before I could stop him he sprang into the cage and grabbed the constructor back of the head, opening his mouth a yard wide, 1t seemed to me. Then he took the bottle in his left hand and proceeded to rub the sore spots. Of course he was busy watching his patient and didn't have eyes for any thing else. But it was different with me. I saw one of the biggest rattlers coiled for a spring. If he bit Joe it would be certain death, and inside of a fraction of second the blow would be struck. My blood seemed to turn into ice water. My head swan round and round, and my heart stopped beating. would have called out, but my tongue was hot and dry and stuck to the roof of my mouth. I finally managed to spring toward tho door. At that instant the rattlesnake darted his head forward with a vicious spring, landing between Joe's fingers. At the same instant Joe dropped the constructor 's<head and sprang from the cage to the ground.
 "'Suck your hand quick,' shouted, land here's some whisky. Don't waste minute, man. Time is precious,
 "'What's the matter?' he asked, as l though surprised at my command. "'Matter enough. You're bitten by rattler.'
 "'Not quite as bad as that he said, with little laugh. It hit the bottle in my hand. Pm not touched. That's nothing. I didn't think you saw it
 "Tm not a coward by nature," continued 1 the doctor as he reached for hls hat, 'but | l felt as weak as any baby when Joe stopped | talking, and the next man who expects to go into rattlesnake cage with my consent must chloroform mo first''