Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-07-18
ABOUT SNAKE CHARMING.
A Theory That the Optic Nerve Is the Part
Affected.

Affected.
Allen Chamberlain tells in Forest
and Stream about Georgia man WHO
saw a little whipsnalxe coiled on some
leaves. He stopped to look at the rep
tile, and as he did so there was a rustic
of the leaves as the snake wagged its
tail. After a few moments it seemed as
if little blue vapor was coming from
| the snake. A suffocating sensation
seized the man. Then he suddenly real
lied that he was being charmed, but
with considerable effort he managed to
break the spell and seize the snake in
| his hands and kill it. Mr.. Chamberlain
says that mo man VINO knew the SUB
| ject of this experience would for mo-
nent doubt its truthfulne.s, and yet it
must be admitted that it is well cal
culated to arouse the strangers sus-
picion."
In the issue of March IS, 1878, of the
same paper a writer said:
"One April morning in the woods ]
| heard a rustic in the leaves and saw :.
| five or siX-foot blacksnake. Two or
/ three inches of his tail was in rapi1
vibration. / looked at it interested for
awhile and the vibrating portions be-
gan to show all the prismatic colors
with such beauty of combination as to
| ,
there was a pleasant sensation of dizzi-
ness. The first I knew I was falling to
the ground frightened. I turned away.
| Ny muscles and nerves were unsteady.
| The snake raised at me several times.
| The same summer I made experiments
on the same kind OF snakes none less
| than five or six feet long"
In the October (1SSO) issue of Nature
| an article on the subject of Snake Fasf
cination'' told of the action of a bird
| that watched a viper.
AT the distance of ten yards saw a
snake whose body, The head of which
was lifted from the ground about threa
feet, was swaying to and fro. A plain
tive shrek attracted my attention TO
a green finch in a branch of a young
| Zine overhanging the snake; its feath-
ers were ruff1ed, following with a nod OF
his head on each side of the branch the
motions of the snake. He tottered
spread out his wings. alighted on !
lower branch. and so on until the las
| branch was reached I flung stick al
rhe snake, and like an arrow it disaP
peared. On approaching I saw th'
green finch on the ground, agitated by
convulsive and spasmodic motions; he
ciutched my finger spasmodically. Ele
eagerly drank water, and after awh1i:
flew away. While watching the snake
felt a peculiar giddiness, a squeezing
like an iron hoop pressed in my temples
and the ground seemed to heave, quit
like seasickness. I think snake fasCi
nation is the result of fatigue of the
optic nerve"
Every work of natural history deal
ing with snakes and their ways ha
reference to ''snake charming" Th
Smithsonian institution report for 1S9.
said in part:
1.-THE popular belief in the power o
The poisonous snake to charm its vic
Tins is by no means eXterminated
Trustworthy observers have related
how birds or small animals have beer
seen to approach the cofled snake
drawn toward it as by magic spell
yet Sin spite of all thai has been arguc'
for and against it there are people WIN
profess to have ocular proof Of thi
power.
"Prof. Brehm once made series q
experiments in well-lighted room,
says the report, "and in every case eN
cept one the victim at first made it
escape, but was captured in articul
mortis after betraying its wanin
, strength by curious symptoms" Th
, birds and animals were sparrows, &C
piers, rats, weasels, quails, woodPecE
. ers and meadow larks Pittsburgh Dis
: patch.