The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-11-11
o L ALTON ON A SNAKE.
Doctors Fake Blanket From Boa Con .
str1ctor's Stomach.
ON The Kansas City Star.


From the Kansas CITY Star.
On Sunday, Aug. %, Mrs. Rade Har-
den's pet African boa constructor alb
systematically swallowed the blanket
on which it had been sleeping Since
that time Babe has lain in her box
thinking the matter over and putting
forth all her gastric powers to digest
the blanket. But the blanket. being of
good stout Canton flannel, refused to
yield to digestion, and it became Sc
riOus question whether or not it could
stand the strain much longer. 1t was
determined, therefore, to perform
surgical operation on Babe and re-
move the impeachment.
At O'Clock this morning Babe was
taken to the University Medical Col
lege at Tenth and Campbell streets
and placed on an operating table in a
lecture room. 1t was extremely lively
as to the first four feet of body and
heavy as to the other four feet. The
amphitheater was filled with medical
students, doctors and visitors. Mrs.
Harded stood by Babe, and encouraged
it to endure the coming ordeal. DIR. L..
ROsenwald took off his coat, rolled up
his sleeves and announced that he was
ready to relieve Babe of it's burden.
Babe ran its forked tongue in and out.
caressing M S. Harden's cheeks and
hands. Even the medical students
shuddered.
While DR.. Moore administered chic
reform to Babe DR.. ROsenwald drew
rough plans and specifications of Babe
on the blackbOards, and, addressing
the students in technical language, ex-
planned that a similar operation had
never been performed Ona snake be-
fore, and that he would make an ''ex-
ploratory incisioI" through the alb
dOminal wall, the peritoneum and the
stomach OF the reptile, provided it
had them, and recover the blanket if it
was there. The students craned their
necks and regarded the preparations
with much interest.
Babe had in the meantime responded
gracefully to the chlOrOform, and was
insensible, An incisiOn five inches
long was madein the belly Of the snake
and hardly drop of blood escaped
But the blanket was there and was
drawn forth without trouble. 1t had
been rolled into cigar-shaped cyind-
er about two feet long and was as hard
as brick. 1t was covered with gas
trio juice, which was fuUilely endeav-
Oring to do its work. The blanket
looked as though it had been compress
ed by machinery.
1t had to be soaked in water before
it could be unfolded. The stomach of
the snake was as clean as a Whittle,
and after the blanket had been removed
was as empty as drum. Nine stitch
es were taken in closing the wound,
and the snake was taken out into the
alley for fresh air. 1t was soon sur
rounded by students, small boys and
cOlOred women. In about five minutes
its lungs filled with air and its forked
tongue ran in and out, and Mrs. Har-
den who was anxiOusly watching it,
gave a sigh Of relief
"I'm so glad my Babe didn't die, 3"
she exclaimed. II couldn't spare my
baby. I'd sooner have that snake
around the house than lots of men,"
The cOlOred women shuddered, and
one exclaimed in Mortified tone: "Oh,
my Gawd !"
DR.. ROsenWald said that the snake
would surely recover and prescribed a
diet of raw eggs for it for two weeks,
after which itmay eat anything except
Canton flannel blankets.
The owner of the boa constructor
conducts restaurant near Fifth and
| Wyandotte streets. She got the rep
| tile from snake charmer who could
not pay board bill.