The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-09-16
SNAKE czARMERs' SECRET.
Mature Furnishes the Necessary ProeSo-
tiOn Against Reptile POlsOning.


Nature Furnishes the Necessary PrSeSS-
tiOn Against Reptile POlsOning.
It has often been stated that Indi-
an and African natives who handle
poisonous snakes without taking
any precaution 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 aristolochia, 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
Gus 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 report made
by Mr.. Sada, the botanist at the Co
lonial park of Pondicherry, in India,
be has recently satisfied himself
that the Aristolochia indica 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-
mained lying on the ground for a
/ 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 sd-
vanced, the scorpion turned and fed.
This sounds like a myth, but MIR.
Sada has also seen that a cobra
snake, the head of which was strew-
ed with aristolochia 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 il
still enormous. The experiments o.
Clamette and Fraser, who claim Il
make people poisonproof by gradu
ally inoculating them with the poi
! sons, is not new. While it explains
to some extent how several of til,
Indian snake oharmers are poison
proof. it is by no means possible Il
\ carry the idea out generally. 1
l. would be a physical impoSsibility 4
inoculate with snake poison tn
400, 900, 600 native inhabitants Of In
I dia and adjacent countries. AS al
= old snake charmer has said to Mr.
L Sada, their secret is exclusively il
the poisonproof qualities of the ar
/ pAdnG-ln~t ASt ino al ASAoAONAAAa Auul
ca. The swallowing of small quan
: titles of the juice pressed from thi
+ plant and the rubbing of the ski
with it are said to be perfectly saf
preventative against snake bites, 70
+ the simple reason that the snake, be
Z fore fastening its fangs, will tur
!, away its head. 1t cannot stand tin
. smell. AS consequence the snak
can never inf1ict a wound in such
i way as to imbed the poison fangs i
e the wound.-Philadelphia Record.