The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-17
BITTEN BY A RATHER.
A snake Bite Cured Without the Use
of Whisky.


A negro convict employed on the turpen-
tine farm of George K. McRee & Sons, near
Valdosta. while chopping boxes last week
was bitten on the ankle by large RATHER.
The prompt application of sensible and
effective antidotes saved the mans life, and
in the course Of three or four days time he
was able to resume work, having escaped
any serious effects from the poison.
The negro, whose name is Aaron Reese
was engaged with squad of fifteen other
convicts chipping or hacking" turpentine
boxes, under the convoy of two white
guards. They were nearing the end of drift
in the crop, and friendly race was being
RIM between Reese and a fellow convict
nearest to him, to see which should get out
first. This prevented the man from MOTTO
ing as closely as he might where he was
stepping. The RATHER lay cooled at the foot
Of a large pine containing two boxes"
and Reese had Clipped one of these boxes
and hastily stepped around the tree in order
10 put ''streak" on the other box. In
doing so he planted his foot squarely
on the deadly reptile. Before he could
limp. horror-stricken, from the perilous
contact the snake struck his fargs into his
left ankle. The unfortunate negro dropped
his hack and sprang away with a loud
scream, which startled the guards and other
convicts, and soon brought them to the
scene. They found Reese making frantic
efforts to free himself from TIE horrible
reptile, which was actually fastened to his
The snake was speedily killed, and Mai.
McRee was summoned from his house.
about a mile away. Before his arrival,
however, under the direction of one Of the
older convicts on the gang, stout cord
was tied around the bitten leg, about six
inches above the bite, and drawn so tightly
as to stop the circulation. Then the snake
was cut up in pieces, and the warm flesh
applied to the bite. In thirty seconds the
poison would color the part so
applied perfectly black, when an
other portion Of the snake would
be applied When Maj. McRee arrived he
had the negro removed at once to the
quarters, and as soon as possible secured
several roots of the ''prickly ash, which
can be found in almost any old field. Warm
water was poured over these roots and q
poultice made and Immediately applied to
fhe wound. The virulence of the poison
soon colored the poultiCe green, and fresh
one would be substituted, until in the course
Of an hour the green failed to show any
further. In the meantime the negro was
given large quantity of fresh sweet milk
to drink.
Not drop of whisky was given him
and the only treatment used was that above
described. Maj. McRee did not even sum
mon doctor, having every confidence in
the prickly ash remedy. which is an old In.
dian antidote for poisonous bites, and said
to be absolutely effective. Beyond bad
scare the convict got off all right, but he
SAYS he win look where he is stepping in flu.
ture when he is chipping boxes.
There are hundreds Of rattlesnakes killed
annually in the Georgia turpentine woods
and some very narrow escapes are otter
made by the negro laborers employed, but
few are ever actually bitten. The negro
Reese is the first case of snake-bite on record
this season among the turpentine laborert
of Georgia.