The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-05-16
DEADLY POISON.
e 3 Contained IN tho Fangs Of
the CHA Monster.


The death ct three persons. one
naturalist from Chicago university, in
Arizona in the last few weeks from
the bite of the Gila monster has re-
newed discussion in this region con-
cerning the terrible venonlous nature
Of the reptile. Without doubt the Gila
monster of the alkai plains and the
hot, dry mountain canyons of Arizona
md the state of Sonora in Mexico is
the deadliest venomous creature
known to the natural history of Amer
lea.
Gila monster is . ridiculous mis-
homer. The reptile Is q combination
Of the basilisk of India aud Java anil
the common rattlesnake of this coun-
try. It has counterpart in q reptile
found in the lava beds of the Hawaiian
islands, but is much the deadlier of the
two. It is about 20 inches in length,
end in girth about the size Of boys
arm.
One of the few authentic cases of re-
covery from the bite Of Gila monster
is that Of Walter II. Vail. of Phoenix.
Arix., who is one of the best known and
cattlemen in the territory.
While Mr.. Vail was engaged in super
yising q roundup OF his cattle in the
ella river region Of Arizona in 1899
he took luncheon one day in a chaparal.
He went to resaddle his horse, after the
meal, and, while picking up saddle
cloth from the hot earth, his hand was
bitten by Gila monster that had
crawled there q moment before. OF
course Mr.. Vail knew instantly that he
was probably q doomed man. His
came to his aid at once. The
reptile was killed and the jaws were
cut away from Mr.. Wallis hand. Quick
er than it takes to pen these words
the mans arm was bound tight at the
elbow to check the flow of blood, the
wound was cut open and strong am-
monia was poured in, while very copi-
GUS draughts of whisky were poured
down Mr.. Wallis throat. He was put on
Il horse, and, accompanied by Lis cow
boys, rode like mad for Is miles to the
home of physician in Tucson. Several
brief stops were made to force more
liquor down Mr.. Wallis throat and to
pour ammonia on the wound in the
hand. For three weeks Mr.. Vail lay
almost between life and death at the
home Of physician in Tucson. Ply
sicians were summoned for consulta-
ton from Phoenix and even from Los
Angeles. Everything that money could
buy or science suggest was done for
the patient. He had strong, vigorous
constitution, and in the course of
few months he was as well as ever. He
is still in the cattle business in the
territory. Everyone in the southwest
has heard of the wonderful recovery
of Walter Vail from the bite of a Gila
monster.
Several years ago Chinese laundry
man was poking his fingers through
the wires of little cage that impris-
oned Gila monster in q saloon at
Tempe. Ariz. The celestial thought the
reptile asleep, but when he had forced
his finger too far in the cage the slug
eish monster bit him quicker than a
wink. The Chinaman wrenched his
finger loose, making q severe wound
clear to the bone. He refused whisky
or any help from physician, and took
a powerful dose of opium in order to re-
lieve the pain. OF course, everybody
il Tempe expected the heather to die,
and when he lived until the next day
it was the biggest kind of surprise.
The Chinaman's friends gave him OPT
nm hourly for several days. The poor
fellow suffered, in spite Of the powerful
drug. unspeakable agony. but he re.
covered. He was practically q phys
lcal wreck for nearly year after the
Gila monster poison went into his sys-
tenn. and was only able to ii. or lie
about his wash house. He said his
was paraly1ed.-N. Y. Sun.