Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-07-04
LIVING WITH SNAKES.
How to Keep the Repulsivs Creatures
Alive and Healthy.


Alive and Healthy.
So long as human nature retains its In
stinctive dislike to anything that creeps or
crawls the practice Of keeping snakes is
not likely to extend far beyond Its present
limits. Most people probably would find
it exceedingly difficult to name any one
addicted to this propensity. DR.. Arthur
Stradling, the subject Of this sketch, de-
clares 1t to be In his case hereditary His
father was fond of snakes, and his son. 9
years of age, is devoted to them and expe-
riences no fear in their presence. How far
the child will develop his taste remains to
be seen. OF the father 1t may be said that
he has devoted the leisure-enforced lei
sure 1t may have been, some of 1t, for the
sake Of the cause-of a lifetime to the study
of snakes. In the pursuit of his study,
which he himself calls "ophiomania, =" he
has visited every snake infested country of
the globe. an undertaking accomplished by
no other person probably with a similar
object. Having in the tropics lived in con-
slant and close companionship with ser.
pents, it is not unnatural that at Watford
he should be still surrounded by them.
"You surmise that the place is always
heated?" says tho doctor. "Gas is burning
day and night. use naked, unventilated
gas for warmth, and, as you can see, my
reptiles are as healthy as can be. Indeed
I pride myself upon the fact that l real
and keep many delicate species which in
variably die in geological gardens and 9TH
er menageries. That lizard without legs
have had for IS years. You say you fan
cied you heard the gas escapingp Oh, no;
that was one of tho snakes kissing. He is
in bad temper ut being disturbed. Just
now l have particularly good collection
of boa constructors, but rattlesnakes are my
first love- am just now beginning to
adopt my method of examining universal.
ly. Anything up to 10 or IA feet can
manage single handed, but in dealing with
stock above that length / invoke the as
sistance of my head keeper, my little boy.
A bag is Of some service to restrain the
movements of the body and render it
amenable to control. once got two ribs
broken while manipulating West Afri-
can pythoness of 16 seet.
"The process is net an elegant one; with
a hundredweight of live, hot snake flesh
wreathing and writhing and engirdlin2
one, one doesn't expend much effort In
keeping up appearances. With shirt sleeves
rolled up and stockinged feet, grasp the
creature Just behind the head and separate
it's jaws hy gentle pressure with silver
spatula. It's more knack than force, fol
all snakes are exceedingly sensitive about
the mouth-a light tap on the muzzle will
turn the fercest Of them. Then the assist
ant pops the lump of meat, dead rat, bird
or whatever the morsel may be right In
among the quivering triple rows of long,
curved teeth-positiyely quivering and
walking with the agitation of anger on
the mobile jaws-and push 1t down to
the stomach, first with a ruler, and then
by squeezing upon it with my hands from
the outside, mechanical suasion which
requires to be maintained for some little
time in order to insure that the item Of
aliment shall remain in statu quo.
In the intervals the youngster is not idle
and finds plenty R occupation in shifting
the reptiles coils and disengaging various
parts of me from too close embrace. And
SO we will fill the beast up until he can
hold no more. Ii we have nothing but
meat, handful of feathers, cinders OF
some knotted strings wound round the
humps supply the place of bones and fur
as far as digestion and nutrition are con-
cerned, and under this regime Of mine,
which has now stood the test Of years, my
snakes thrive. and-in captivity, at least
excel in health, beauty and strength any
Of those that feed themselves. I have
much to learn YET, Of course perhaps
eventually shall cram all that come into
my hands without waiting to see whether
they are willing to help themselves or not
but, anyhow, have succeeded in saving
the lives Of those which display that sin.
gular disposition to suicide by total absti.
nence manifested by the large majority Oh
them after capture London Sketch