The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-12
USES OF RATTLESNAKE OIL.
PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS NOW
GATHERING THEIR PANACEA.
FROM the New York Sun.


In the mountains of Eastern Pennsyl-
vania rattlesnake hunting is now engage
ing the attention Of the Pennsylvania
Germans. The annual snake hunting of
these people is coincident with the sowing
of buckwheat, which usually is done dur
ing the week preceding and that following
the Fourth of July.
The rattlesnake is hunted for its oil.
"Rosselschlange fet," as the Pennsylva-
MIA Germans call the oil, is by them held
in high esteem because of it's alleged
power to heal and cure many of the
battling and indefnable ills that affiict
man and beast. The quantity of oil secur-
ed in a season is so small in proportion
to the demand that It has never become
a commodity of trade; at least in this wise
the Pennsylvania Germans explain the ig-
norance of the apothecary both of it and
its virtues.
At no time in the year IS the rattle
snake believed to be in so good condition,
physically. for the yielding of oil in guam
tity and quality as the early part of July.
1t then has grown fat on the wealth of
spring. and summers languid days have
not had time to warp the pretty curves
of its plump outline.
Il6 ellis anna ldLAlGSlldh6 llcS lucas
and tastes of its own. 1t prefers the
mountains, especially such parts as are
covered by short, thick underbruSh, as
huckleberry bushes. 1t likes to wriggle
through these and climb over them, be-
cause of the chance of finding there creep
ing and gnawing things for food. Ocea-
sionally it ventures down the mountain
sides into the plains, though never far;
for when it reaches the moist meadow 1t
turns back to the fields of stumps and
stubble Here it haunts stone piles and
stone fences, where it finds mice and
birds to eat, and opportunity to bask in
the hot sun. 1t Is because of the latter
weakness that ii often comes to grief at
the hands of the lawmakers, for rich clo-
yer abounds in such fields, to be dragged
along to the farm house in the evening,
and there dissected. worthy OF note mere
is the unVarying habit of the haymakers
to postpone such dissection until the sun
has gone down, for not until then does
death come to the snakes tail.
The killing of a rattlesnake by the hay
makers is easy and safe. The RATHER Is
usually found lying on stone fence
stretched out al full length, like lazy
alligator in Central Park. The hot bak-
ing stones underneath and the brolllng
sun overhead seem to render it Obvious
to what is going on around; it dislikes
even to open its eyes at an approaching
sound. All this naturally IS taken adVan-
tage of by the haymakers. They keep
perfectly quiet, as do also the women,
are no more afraid of rattlesnake than
of the little yellow, black striped reptiles
they despatch in the gardens with noes.
1t is customary In haymaking to take a
short rest every time the end OF the field
has been reached Nine times out of ten
there is a stone pile in proximity. Then
the time intended for rest Is given to look
ing for snakes. When one of the white
and gray blOtched beauties is found roast
ing itself on the hot stones, the men pro-
cure a branch perhaps ten feet long and
an inch or two in diameter at the point
where it is out from the tree. The limbs
are trimmed off closely, save two at the
thinner end, which are cut prong-shaped,
so - to form a short fork. One Of the
party then takes the branch, heavy end,
in both hands, and stealthily approaching
the snake from the rear jahs the fork
over the back of the neck. The snake
of course, win lash the air with its tail
and dart its tongue in and out express
ing both pain and anger, but it can't move
its head, because it is pinned fast by the
fork on its neck. Before it has time to
philosophize over it's abject helplessness
a second man appears with club and
does the rest.
And right here comes the most import
ant part of the snake-killing business
Tradition has il that a rattlesnake, when
attacked, becomes so angry that II 1t
can't bite its assailant it will bite Itself
thus rendering poisonous in most Viru-
lent degree the oil fried out of its fat
Hence the use in snake killing Of long
piece or wood, with fork at one end,
to guard against the snake doing Yio-
lence to itself.
In killing the rattlesnake among buckle
berry bushes the method is much the
same To its credit be it said, the rattle
snake is not treacherous. 1t never bites
before warning. If it is lying under