The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-09-02
SNAKE cHARnERs' SECRET.


Nature Furnishes the Necessary PrOeso-
tIon Against Reptile Poisoning.
1t has often been stated that Indi-
an and African natives who handle
poisonous snakes without taking
any preoaution protect themselves
with the juice of an herb, the odor
of which is said to be very distaste-
full to the snakes. Various species
of the aristoloohia, among them the
birthwort and the Virginia snake
root, have the reputation in various
parts of the world of possessing the
properties of keeping away venom
ous reptiles and insects and of coun-
teracting their poison. These state
ments have as often been asserted
as disputed by botanists and chem
lists; but, according to a report made
by Mr.. Sada, the botanist at the Co
lonial park of Pondicherry, in India,
he has recently satisfied himself
that the Aristolochia indioa really
possesses such qualities. This plant
is known in Sanskrit as 'ari" or
"hari, meaning snake. " One al
most believes oneself perusing an
old myth of Glaukos or Plinius
when reading Mr.. Sada's report
where he claims to have observed q
chameleon which, after being stung
by a scorpion, hurriedly searched
for an aristolochia bush and ate Of
its leaves. The chameleon then re-
manned lying on the ground for q
short time as if lifeless, and finally
biting off a stem with a few leaves
attacked the scorpion with this
branch. As soon as the animal ad-
vanced, the scorpion turned and fed.
This sounds like a myth, but Mr.
Sada has also seen that a cobra
snake, the head of which was strew-
ed with aristolochis leaves, was
dazed By their odor so that it could
be killed without trouble. The steam
ing of aristolochia leaves is the best
remedy against the plague of insects
and vermin, and IN the province of
Malabar the natives even carry
wreaths OF the foliage of the plants
upon their heads in order TO keep
away stinging insects. Babies era
dies in that country are also sur
rounded by garlands of these leaves.
1t is high time that these reports
should be scientifically examined as
to their real value, for the loss Of
life by snake bites in India alone is
still enormous. The experiments of
Clamette and Fraser, who claim to
make people pOisonproof by gradu-
ally inoculating them with the poi
sons, is not new. While it explains
to some extent how several of the
Indian snake oharmers are poison
proof, it is by no means possible TO
carry the idea out generally. Ii
would be physical impossibility TO
inoculate with snake poison tine
400, 600, 600 native inhabitants of In
dia and adjacent countries. AS an
old snake charmer has said to Mr..
Sada, their secret is exclusively in
the pOisonproof qualities of the ari
plant-that is, the aristolOchia indi.
ca. The swallowing of small quan-
titles of the juice pressed from this
plant and the rubbing of the skin
with it are said to be perfectly safe
preventative against snake bites, for
the simple reason that the snake, be-
fore fastening it's fangs, will turn
away its head. 1t cannot stand the
smell. AS a consequence the snake
can rever infict a wound in such a
way as to imbed the poison fangs in
the wound. d.-Philadelphia Record.