The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-14
EXTRACTING SNAKE VENOM.
DIR. Gustav Langmann Makes DiscOv-
cries Regarding the Poison.

cries Regarding the Poison.
From the New York Times
A series of experiments with snake venom
has recently been completed In this city.
These experiments were under the super
vision of DR.. G. Langmann, who. with a
view TO ascertaIning the exact chemical
nature of snake poison, maintained a large
collection of living venomous snakes.
DR.. Langmann became interested in the
subject OF snake poison two years ago. He
wished to procure large quantities of the
venom for study and analysis, but at first
found this difficult matter He at length
concluded TO advertise for ophidian speci-
mems, and his efforts were attended with
success. The first batch of reptiles came
fl Om Hancock, Sullivan county, New York,
and was in the shape of more than a dozen
fullgrown rattlers. These came in a craft
ed box, deliberately decora ted with skull
and crossbones and other appropriate
symbols. Following the rattlesnakes came
number of copperheads from New Jer-
sey.
Dr. Langmann fitted up an pathological
laboratory and began his studies. He first
devised an apparatus for extracting venom
from the serpents This consisted of a
glass funnel with a long tongue which rest
ed in a glass tube containing a small
the mouth of the funnel, and the appar-
atus was ready for use. The snakes mouth
is placed against the chamois, through
which 1t fiercely sends Its fangs AS the
fangs pierce the covering a jet of venom
is elected from each, which flows down
the funnel into the small bottle at the bot
tom of the tube.
The manner of handling these formidable
creatures is as dangerous as it is inter
esting A snake is taken from its cage
and placed upon an operating table. AS
the reptile is thrown from its coil stick
is pressed over its head, firmly pinning il
down. The angry creature is now grasp
ed by the neck, Immediately behind the
head, thus preventing it from turning and
biting from either side. If the reptile IS
not gTasped in exactly the right place or
the grip is not firm enough, it may
quickly turn and produce a fatal wound.
During the entire series of DR.. Lang
mann's experiments, In which nearly
hundred snakes We're constantly handled
by him and his assistants, not a single
accident occurred.
A visit to the doctors laboratory day
or two ago was an exceedingly novel ex-
perience. AS the visitor entered the room
there was burst of angry music from the
rattlers, which caused one not acquant-
ed with the snakes to involuntarily start
for the door. The snakes were confined
in large cages with glass fronts. Many
show delicate shades of green and yellow,
while the copperhead, though deadly in
appearance, being beautifully notified
with red and brown BY far the most
deadly in appearance in this uncanny me-
nagerie Is the diamond-back rattlesnal1e
About a dozen Of these monsters were
sent from Gainesville. Fla, by James Bell,
a veteran snakecatcher. DR.. Langmann
has found their poison more fatal In its
effects than the venom from any of the
other American snakes. A stroke from
their fangs kills large rabbit IN less than
five minutes. Next in rank comes the
banded rattlesnake, which inhabits the
Northern United States.
Recent experiments show the copper
head to be less formidable in the matter
of its venom than the rattlesnake. Last
upon the list comes the Florida water
moccasin, or "cottonmouth," which al
though larger and more powerful than the
copperhead, is proportionaly less veno-
nous. DR.. Langsmann's paper on the We
nom of serpents, read recently at the New
York Academy Of Medicine, excited great
interest. He described, the poison APP
paratus of the reptiles. saying that it was
i'm no way connected with the tongue, or
"stinger," as most people imagine, but
consisted of two teeth in the upper jaw.
These are long and hollow, connecting
with a gland or sack situated behind the
eye. When at rest they lie folded back
toward the throat. AS the snake bites
these teeth or fangs spring forward while
the venom flows from a narrow opening
at the Zip of each. DR.. Langmann, IN
speaking Of the venom describes It as yell
low fluid, subject 10 rapid decomposition.
in which state it emiis most repugnant
odor When excluded from the air he says
that II has been known to retain its full
vitality for more than twenty years. 1t
may also be quickly dried and stored away
In a coarse graduated condition, and
when redissolved in salt water still retains
It's fun toxic power. It's effects upon a
warm bloodcd animal are very peculiar.
The venom may be roughly separated in
to two parts-one acting upon the blood
and the other upon the nerves. When in
jected ii Immediately begins to create ter
rib,e destruction in the blood vessels, the
walls of the veins are eaten away, and an
internal hemorrhage takes place. While
this Is going on q portion OF the venom is
attacking the nerves. Particularly sus-
ceptible TO its rav8ges Is the 'vasO-motor'
system, a nerve center which controls the
muscles of respiration. Paralysis takes
place in these organs and the victims gem
orally dies from an inability to breathe.
During his discourse DR.. Langmann
dwelt upon the subject Of antidotes. He
says that an nfailible cure for snake pol
son has now been discovered. This Is the
new remedy known as antivenine, OBJ