Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-01-18
RATTLESflAKE VENOM.
Msthod by which II Is Safely Extracted
from the Serpents.

rassing over the end and through II
ntaplo, and this is tightened or loos-
med, as occasion may require, by
sneans of string extending up tho
handle. 1t has been found necessary
not TO conilne the tnake's head too
slightly. rs otherwise IL can not be in
tuced to strike. The head being So
cure |, IA stick having its end covered
with absorbent cotton is pressed
against the snakes mouth, and it is
teased until sufficiently irritated to
strike its fangs into the cotton, which
receives the venOrl and obviates any
danger to the iangs, as it has been
found in allowing snakes TO strike
against saucer the fangs arc
frequently broken of. Generally
snake will strike three or four times
very viciously and taen relapse into
sullcn apathy Wo have in vain en-
dcavorcd 10 procure venom from our
snakes by pressing over the poison
glands. but this has been unsuccessful,
except in ore instance, unless the snake
was chloroformed. und II this is dono
the reptile generally succumbs within
few days, This fact is mentioned, as
Il has been learned through the public
prints thet some ex 3erimenters in q
neighboriog city have succeeded in
squeezing out the venom while tho
snake was active.
The quantity of venom obtained
from different individuals varies great
ly. From a large rattlcr, weighing
perhaps three or -four pounds, our first
attempt resulted in securing about
fifteen drops Of venom after the reptile
had struc6 three times; but if the
process is iepeated every day
or two but n very small
quantity Is obtained. The smaller
snakes give much smaller quantity.
The cotton. after having received its
charge of venom, was removed from
the stick and washed out carefully in
glycerine, and by measuring the guam
tity Of this substanc, first, and then
after the venom had been added, we
were able to tell accurately tho
strength Of the solution, which con-
sisted of eight drachms OF chemically
pure glyccrine and one drachm Of the
venom. This is the preparation which
was used in all the experiments, and it
Is called glycerine-venom. One fact
should be stated rs bearing upon tho
popular belief that snakes, II kept
from water, are not poisonous. 1t was
found that by keeping the rattlers
without water for n week or two,
the quantity of venom was materially
smaller than when We allowed them
free access 10 water. and that tho
color of the venom, which was
yellowish green when no fluid was sup
piled, became much lighter in color
when thoy had freely drunken. We
have never been able to induce our
rattlesnakcs to cat, although they hayo
been tempted with u variety of food,
but water they consume largely.
When the present supply OF rattlers
was first received il was n very easy
matter to grasp any one OF them be-
hind the neck with snake-staff but
experience has taught them that they
must do something against their will,
and now it is quite difficult to secure
them, and even when secured IL is
difficult to make them strike; in fact,
one specimen is now so tame that it
may be handled with impunity, and it
Is the writer's belief that rattlcr, il
carefully and tenderly handled. will
not bite the hand that grasps it. 1t is
believed the Moqui Indians are aware
of this. and II enables them TO handle
with impunily the venomous snakes
used in their fearful dance, so well de-
scribed by Captain John g. Bourke, u.
S. A. Mapy persons suppose that tho
fangs of rattlcr once removed tho
reptile is harmless for all time, or that
at least yrar is required TO replace
the fangs. This is an error, for tho
writor has In his possession rattlcr
In which tke fangs were twice replaced
after an interval of three weeks only.
AS the attler doubtless knows when
the contents OF the poison gland is eX'
hausted, ps is evidenced by his refusal
to bite after two or three efforts, he
probably also knows that it Is useless
to show fight when the fangs have
been removed, and this has been
practically tried on one of our snakes
She continues to coil and rattle, but
no matter how much teased and irri'
tated, makes no attempt TO bite.
An interesting fact has been noticed
important to record. 1t is that the rat
tier does not invariably use both fangs
in striking, the muscular movement ol
either side of the jaw being quito In
dependent of the other, and quite al
the will of the reptile. The practical
bearing of this point is that occasion'
ally in snake bite but one puncturc
will be found, and some doubt may eX'
lst IL this was really due to the SER
pents fangs or not. Another point oI
interest lies in the fact that il only ono
fang is plunged into the tissues, the
patient will not have received so large
dose of the venom as II both teeth
had been used, and n more favorable
rognosis can be made.