The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-03-15
A RATTLER'S FANGS.
SOME CURIOUS THINGS CON-
CERNINo THEM.
Examination OF Dead snake shows
That rhey Closely Resemble the Horns
OF Cow and Arc Deiieateiy Polished
Surgical Instruments.

An opportunity OF dlssccting the
business parts Of the Crotalus horridus,
or. in plain English, the horrid rat.
tier. which il the literal meaning of
this, its scientific name. goes 10 prove
what any scientific person will tell you,
viz, that the encyclopedias arc the
very worst sources TO 20 10 for any
accurate information on scientific mat
tors. The best newspapers now fur
nish this kind Of information. And
very truly this holds good in regard to
this reptile. which Is classod among
the vipers, and OF the vipers II il said
"they have but one fang A writer
FOR the New York Times was present
recently when a scientist made care
full examination Of q dead snake. The
reptile was nearly four feet long. had
thirteen rattles. and whom opened was
found TO have dincd not long before
on three young rabbits, which were
lying snugly In its very long stomach.
longthwise, one after the other. as
they were swallowed. The tail at the
junction Of the rattlcs Is formed OF u
bundle OF hbcrs much like those OF a
tarred ropo. ono.third OF an inch In
diameter. twisted In the same manner,
and crossed, soas to give u great force
TO the end OF the tail. on which the
loose rattlcs are arranged.
hut tho other end Of tho reptile Is
OF the most interest because the ok
animation completely upscts all the
/ popular notions 20 FAR held about tho
iangs. There are four OF these ON
each jaw. Ono was quito large. over
half an inch In length. This Is the
needle, but not the convcycr Of the
poison. This Is u triple fang, or three
separate fangs, very loosely attached
/ 10 tho moving muscle. 80 that they
are very easily drawn out, and they
arc almost invisible on account OF
thoir clear. translucent color. 30 that
they might easily escape notice In a
wound mado 10y the real fang. These
poison fangs are hollow and arc d.
rcctly attached TO the sac In
which tho poison is contained. In
separating this sac from tho hollow
in the root OF the fang, tho poison
ducts become loose. with the sac.
This fang Is solidly attached 10 loose,
hollow bone ut its lower end. which /,
connected by hinge OF strong
muscle or tendon to the articulation
OF the jawbono. BY the action Of thi,
hinge the fang is erected and forced
through the opening In the front o.
the muscular covering by which Il II
concealed whom IL Is ut rost. II Their
lies down on the jawbonc at the back
OF tho sharp. hooked teeth. SGT firmly
In the jaws. This covering muscl,
lies like soft cushion at the bach
part OF tho jaw, merely showing In,
rounded orihco through which tn,
fangs aro forced whom the muscle Il
contracted. This muscle Is shown b,
the clear line drawn around the fangs
and II covers as well the loose bon'
ana tho Jaw around which II 4
wrapped Just behind the articula
eight teeth, quite snail, OF
zach side OF the jaw. Tho jawbon,
has n ridge running longthwlse, will
langcs on each side Of II. by which 1
Ia attached 10 tho muscles Of tn,
cheeks. Tho tongue is thin. slon
der fiber attacnod by strong muscle
not iorlsed, as popularity supposed
but appearing to be 20 by IT, rapi
vibration when the reptile Is disturbc,
and shows IT, hostility 10 the intrudo
by giving some OF It's worry shar
tongue. II Is very CLEAR under thcs
circumstances that the most apparen
fang Is tho puncturing instrument
! and when IL has done lite work th
r deadly true iangs, which arc tubular
enter the wounds and discharge thcl
, load Of poison. These are plainl
r seen 10 be tubes, and are exactly lilI
| the horns OF COW. In lor the m
croscopo the substance Of thom looA
/, like pearl and has a delicate polls
: AMI finish. No surgical instrumer
I. Is made so olicately.