The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-09
FANGS OF A RATHER.
SOME CURIOUS THINGS ABOUT REP
TILES DISCLOSED.
Examination Of Dead snake SHOWS I'M"
They Clossiy Resemble the Horns Oh
Cow aud Are Deltcsteiy Poii,heh'

An opportunity OF dIssecting the Dust
nsss parts OF the Crotalus horridus, or
I'm plain English, the horrid RATHER "hiSh
is the literal meaning of this, us sciehtinS
name, goes to prove what any scieh'inN
person viii tell you, viz. that the enc!
clopaedias ale the very worst sources "
go to for any accurate information vi
scientific matters. The best newspapers
now furnish this kind of information.
And very truly this holds good In regard
10 this reptile, which Is ciassed among
the vipers. It is said they have but one
fang" a writer for the New York Times
was present recently when scientist
made a careful examination of dead
snake The reptile was nearly four feet
long had thirteen ratiles, and when OPP
ened was found to have dlned not iohg
before on three young rabbits, when
were lying snugly in its very long stom-
acb lenath wise, one after the other, as
they were swallowed. The tan at the
junction OF the Tattles Is formed OF
bundle Of fbers much ike those Oh
taTred rope, one-third of an men In diam.
eter, twisted in the same manner anu
crossed so as TO give a great force TO the
end of the tail on whlch the house. iaF
ties are arranged
Put the other end Of the reptile Is OF
the most interest, because the eXamina-
ton completely upsets all the popular
notions so far held about the fangs Inere
were four of these on each jaw. one was
quite large, over half an inch in length
This is the needle. but not the conVeyer
OF the poison. This is q triple fang, or
three separate fangs, very loosely at
tached 70 the moving muscle, 50 thal
they are very easily drawn out, and they
are almost invisible on account or their
clear. translucent color, so that tney
might easily escape notice in wound
made by the real fang. These poison
fanss are hollow and are directly at
tached TO the sac IL when the poison
is contained. In separating TINS sac from
the hollow in the root of the fang, the
poisOn ducts became loose, with the sac.
This lang is solldly attached TO loose.
h,ilow bone at It's lower end, which Is
connected by a hinge of strong muscle or
tendon 20 the articulation OF the Jawbone.
By the action OF this hinge the fang Is
erected and forced through the opening
In rhe front Of the muscular covering hs
which IT is con cealed when II is at rest.
II then lies down on the jawbone at the
back OF the charp hooked teeth, SET
firmly in the jaws This covering muscle
lies ike a soft cushion at the back part
of the law merely showing the rounded
ori6ce tnrodgh which the fangs are
forced when the muscle is contracted.
This muscle Is shown by the clear line
drawn around the fangs, and II covers
as well the loose bone and the Jaw around
which II is wrapped just behind the artic-
ulation and the teeth. There are eight
teeth. quite small. on each side of the
Jaw. the jawbone has ridge running
leupthwise, with Ranges on each side or
il. by which 1t is attached TO the muscles
of the cheek. The tongue is a thin slen-
der fiber attached by strong muscles
not forked. as popularity supposed put
aDDearing to be so by its rapid vibration
when the reptile Is disturbed and shows
its hostility to the Intruder by giving
some Of its very sharp tongue. 1t IS very
clear under these circumstances that the
most apparent fang is the puncturing IN
strument. and when II has done its work
the deadly true fangs. which are tubular,
enter the wounds and discharge their load
OF poison. These are plainly seen to be
tubes. and are exactly like the horns or
a cow Under the microscope the sub
stance Of them looks like pearl and has
n delicate polish and finish. No surgical
Instrument is made so delicatcly.