Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
RATTLEsNAkE VENOM
USED By INDIANS TO TIP ARROWS
WITH POISON.
The Reptiles Were Tempted to Strike
Chunks of Meat, Which Then
Were Boiled, and the
Poison Extracted.

Before the white traders thoughtfully
furnished the North American Indian with
long-range rifles and ammunition the prim-
tive bow and arrow was the red mans
greatest protection against his enemies. To
make the arrow more effective the Indian
poisoned Its point. When a white man was
struck by one of these. even II 1t made but
a mere scratch, his life usually paid the for
felt. The Indians did not always use these
deadly weapons, but when on the warpath
carried a few of them to be utilized In the
case OF emergency. The intimate knowl-
edge that Indians possess of roots and
herbs served them well in some sections Of
the country. as they were able to distill a
fatal vegetable poison. On the plains. how
ever, where there is no foliage. and. in
1afr; no Hat fopsf or to the hers Shake the ,o o assTilsI bis
deadly ammunition. AS rattlesnakes could
be found in thousands upon the plains, it
was only necessary to collect the venom
death.
The usual method of the dusky brave was
June or tine early part of July to some To-
eaity where rattiesnakes were known to
abound in large numbers. One favorite
place is known as Bents anyon a rocky
gulf forty miles long. that leads into a
creek known in Southern Colorado as the
by pif the oid Fre Irs o Tayasars na Was s sPsFxa !.
toire." and its high banks. rushing water
and rocky approaches filled the bill. The
| pIdlllSildl. v DclH6 oil cApeTC
the "Picketwire." which it is now and
probably ever will be.
up of braves. squaws. and pappOoses WIS.,
tied the Picketwire and opened up business.
The squaws and children went out and
hunted the RATHER, while the buck either
sat croSS-legged or lay down in the shade
of some friendly bowlder. and calmly in
| spected the results of the hunt when
brought into camp.
Getting the Bite.
In the hottest part OF the summer the
rattlesnake is believed by the Indians to be
the most venomous and ugly, especially
during the period when he is shedding his
skin. 1t is also a tradition that the snake
goes blind for a short time, and, eonse-
In the heat of the day the snakes crawl
out of the ground and bask in the sun, the
warmth of the earth and rocks being. ex-
tremely grateful to them. The squaws took
a piece of raw meat, generally liver. weigh
ing less than half a pound. This was
dangled tem In by means leans Of a d piece ss.6 Of
feet long. over the nose of a huge RATHER:
The snake sprang his rattle and gathered
ties in the center and the head towering
above the body. rearing and slowly NOV
ing. backward and forward. SO as always
his rattles going constantly. and one who
ever heard the peculiar whirring noise will
never forget the time and place. The little.
unwinking, beady eyes glow like miniature
Goals, emitting a strange, fascinating light
that 1t is not well to regard too closely.
alsad faeq Bleesfor Gpsdpi tongue meu dar ainpl1 IN a ind
out with inconceivable rapidity and the
white glistening fangs in the upper jaw
ready for instant action.
So the piece of meat was swung about
the snake to the left to the right and over
him. but just beyond his reach; This irri-
tated him. so that when finally the bait was
permitted to pass within his reach his head
darted from the center of his coil and the
tsa1e w " mo fntaly a ntra either Tbs &disen snake d hans
sqi Sr T Tas sst sfisss Of ana a po,so S@ ~ rept Tie
lment or two, Consequently the RATHER in
this instance resumed his coil again but
slowly. Again the meat swung within his
as the object of his bite did not seem te
show the faintest sign of the blow. This
he eoald not understand and gathered ed him,
venom had been exhausted. Another snake
talizing. proximity Of what to them was
an enemy caused them to bury their fangs
as often as possible In the bait. Many
until the savages believed they had OBJ
tanned a suf1ciency of poison. =
Extracting the Poison.
A fire was built quickly and an iron kettle
produced. h ~impregnated Nmeat was
thrown into the kettle and boiled. a trife
of water having been added to 1t. until but
a small residuum was obtained. This. II
kept warm, remained in a liquid condition,
but coagulated readily when taken from the
fire. During the boiling. of the meat. q duty
Of the squaws. it was frequently tasted. as
the aborigines depended in some manner
Upon that sensation as to the proper time
when the boiling should cease. Rattlesnaks
poison is not harmful If taken in small
quantities into the stomach. but II Is not
q pleasant sight; especially If one knows
Indian crone calmly. lift the iron spoon to
her lips to taste this devils broth. The
virulence Of the poison was estimated by
the Indians in accordance to its effect upon
some other animal. The Indian boys of the
tribe generally caught a few rabbits. Al
%incision was made in their skip Sufficiently
was applied to it. II the rabbit died quick.
~. with all the symptoms of snake poison.
ing. the distillation was correct. Should il
take the rabbit longer 10 die or should
the symptoms not be as violent as the
Indians think necessary, more boiling was
required.
Tipping the Arrows.
The arrows. which in those days pos.
-a.zzl Co. H. nak ~a~ oAn&k tror