Mower County transcript., 1890-12-03
THE CLUMSY RATHER.
1te M'sses Much Oftoner THIN He Hit
When at Work.

He M'ssos Much Oftoner ThNn No Hits
Whcn at Work.
Rat. lesnakes are moro poisonous in
print than In their native wilds. Tho
Southwestern plains abound in those
dingy reptiles. and had ample opportu-
nifty to Judge Of their character and per-
formances, both OF which fall below re-
port. The rattlesnake has Short fiat,
wide head. Besides tho rod and forked
tongue, OF which he makes display whom
bullied, his mouth is upholstered with
two fangs, which are in tho upper jaw
and correspond in position to the eye.
teeth Of mankind. These fangs in o
serpent OF common size are about
three-fifths OF an inch long and
have slight curve lilxo scimotar,
and hook inward. They are white
In color, of the diameter OF q needle,
and hollow from foot to point Their
root or seat is in q snc con ntaining the
poison. which is loosened and flows
through tho tube-like fang as q result
Of the muscular exertion Of striking.
1t does not flow, but spirits, and two
tiny jets OF poison intended for tho VIC
tim distill into the air every time the
rattlesnake strikes and misses This
last he does about four times out OF five,
for his snakeship is rs clumsy and inac-
curato as o woman with rock. have
seen one miss tull-grown merino
sheep three times in succession. In
serpent as in alligators the upper not
the lower jaw is the one that moves to
open the mouth. The fangs working
on sort OF hinge are closed like the
blade OF knife when the mouth is
closed and are presented for business
by the action OF throwing back the
upper jaw. The mere act Of OPEN
ing the jaws always discloses the
fangs without any separate effort on tho
part OF the serpent, and when the mouth
Is closed again two tleshy envelopes or
scabbards cover them from doing or re-
ceiving harm. This is necessary, as q
rattlesnake's poison is just as bad medi-
cine for himself as for any one else.
These fangs have all the timber plia-
bility of the finest steel, and can be
bent or put in any posture by little
force, but will at once spring into shape
on being relieved.
AS to the deadly character of his rep
tileship. can only say thatI have seen
numberless horses, steers and sheep
which were bitten by rattlers, always
in the nose and head, and never ono
died. They were sick from . day to q
month, and their heads would became
swollen and the candidates would NOPE
about the prairie in u detected way, but
they came around all right as q finale.
never knew man to die, although
l have known some few to get
stung. Whisky in copious way
as an internal, and poul-
tice Of pounded onions and salt
as an outward application were all that
was needed. I have known some topers,
who knew there was whisky in the
wagons, to go about looking for the bite
Of q rattlesnake as eagerly as some
anglers seek bass, just for the glorious
drunk that was sequential to it. Such
persons, however, are not common.
Some few people like snakes as pets.
Thoy will remove rattler's fangs by
breaking them of with q silk handker.
chief, and so mako tho gentleman harm
less. To those who may hereafter per-
form this feat as primary step toward
becoming intimate with the rattle
snake, wish to say word Of warn
ing. These fangs are Of a similar
growth to the f1nger-nails OF humanity.
and when torn out readily y replace them.
selves with a new growth. Your pet will
be ready to do business on the old lines
in six weeks after you have pulled his
teeth: so beware, Kansas CITY Star.