Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-07-25
SNAKE cHARMERS' SECRET.
Nature Furnishes the Necessary Prote
ton Against Reptile Poisoning.

Nature Furnishes the Necessary Protec.
ton 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 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 a report made
by Mr.. saba, 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 scorpion, hurriedly searched
for an aristolochia bush and ate of
its leaves. The chameleon then re-
NAMED lying on the ground for a
short time as if lifeless. and finally
biting off a stem with few leaves
attacked the scorpion with this
branch. AS soon as the animal adj
vanced, tho scorpion turned and fled.
This sounds like II myth, but Mr..
saba has also seen that cobra
snake, tho head of which was strew-
ed with aristolochia leaves. was
dazed by their odor SO that it could
be killed willout trouble. The steam
ing of aristolochia leaves is the best
remedy against the plague Of insects
and verDln, and in the province of
Malaba the natives oven carry
wreaths Of the foliage of the plants
upon their heads in order to keep
away singing insects. Babies era
dies in that country arc also sur
rounded by garlands of these leaves.
1t is high timo that these reports
should I've 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 pojsonproof by gradu-
ally inoculating them with the poi
sons, is not new. While it explains
to some extent how several of the
Indian snake charm ers are poison
proof. it is by no means possible to
carry the idea out generally. 1t
would be physical impossibility to
inoculate with snake poison the
400, 600, 900 native inhabitants of In
dia and adjacent countries. As an
old snake charmer has said to Mr..
saba, their secret Is exclusively in
the poisonproof qualities of the ari
plant--that is, the aristolochia indi-
ca. The swallowing Of small guam
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
tho simnle renson TINT the snake. be-
fore fastening it's fangs, will turn
away its head. 1t cannot stand the
smell. AS n consequence the snake
can never inflict a wound in such a
way as to imbed the poison fangs in
the Observation-Disclosures Record.