Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-08-03
FATALITY OF SNAKE BITES.

or RaTlS, which Is claimed to be an
antidote for the bites of poisonous
snakes. That universal and whole
some dread of these reptiles and
their fangs, and their undeniable
presence in considerable numbers
in this county, and other surround
ings, may detract from the pleasure
which many find in roaming
through the woods cannot be gairr-
said, but that their is no great dang
er, judging by the past records, of
persons and animals being bitten,
may be confidently asserted. En-
quiry from a number of life long
residents of the county, men who
have traversed the woods in all di-
rections, fails to disclose very many
instances of people being bitten by
rattlesnakes or the more dangerous
because it gives no warning, copper
head. Several instances are known
of persons having been bitten but
there seems to be but one we'll au-
thenicated case of fatal result d
that was of boy in Porter town
ship, a son of Esquire Clark who
some two years ago was killed by a
rattlesnake. 1t was found he had
been bitten several times in his con-
test with the reptile which it was
Supposed he had taken in his hands
and being some distance from home
had received no aid, The idea that
rattlesnakes will attack persons,
without great provocation is an err
ror and the fearsome tales of con-
tests and coinbats with snakes are
fakes. They cannot strike at dis
tance of more than two thirds their
length, two or three feet at most,
are sluggish in their movements,
willing to escape, and usually give
warning of their presence by rat
tling OF course If approached
within striking distance, or if step
ped on, they will bite, but instances
are exceedingly rare OF all the per-
sons enquired of none knew or rec
collected, of any dogs or animals
dying from the effect of snake bites
except in two cases. One was of a
dog which had come upon nest of
copperheads and after killing doz-
en- or more was SO badly bitten that
it died and another was of COW
which was found dead and large
rattlesnake near. Death in this in.
stance however may have resulted
from other causes. Dogs ON being
bitten and there are many such
cases recalled, will bury themselves
in the mud or earth, and, beyond
some swelling of the parts suffer no
great inconvenience. Bathing the
parts with a decoction of white ash
bark and binding the bruised bark
on the wound is an old and effica-
cious remedy in cases of animals
being bitten. There seems there
fore to be much greater dread than
actual danger to persons of being
bitten and the Instances of animals,
cattle, which roam the woods, and
dogs which rush through the woods
regardless, being bitten are COM
paratively very rare indeed. 1t is
assumed that animals detect the
presence of snakes by their scent
and thus avoid them. Horses it is
we'll known are exceedingly sensi-
tive of their presence and so are
dogs but many dogs do not hesitate
to attack snake and with one or
two vicious jerks tear them to
pieces. If, in the encounter, they
happen to be struck they will, if al
lowed, promptly apply a remedy
which instinct tells them will cure
A case is known where a bull dog
seemed to have passion for hunt
ing snakes and was frequently bit.
ten, on two or three occasions his
! fights were observed. He would
invariably after an encounter
whether bitten OF not run to where
large white ash tree stood near &
slough, burrow in the mud for q
few hours and come out Triumphant
apparently none the worse for hi:
adventure. Instances of oxen beine
} bitten, while being driven in mead
ows are told and beyond a slight
swelling they suffered no inconveni
ence.
1t would be a happy deliverance i
in writing a chapter on snakes the
historian could say as did the one
who wrote of Ireland. There arr
no snakes in Pike, and, if Mr.. Park
! ers suggestion of Offering a bounty
is adopted the time may soon conn
when there will be very few. It Il
known that some dens which form
/ erly sheltered many of the loath
4 some reptiles are now deserted ant
| were pains taken to visit their hab
e itations in early spring when the!
crawl out, shot guns and littl