Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-02
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SNAKES AS A CURE.
"RattIesnake Pete" Applies Them
to Gases of Goitre.

"Rattlesnake Pete" Applies Them
to Gases of Goitre.
Peter Gruber, of Rochester, N. Y,
whose skill and courage in handling
venomous reptiles have given him a
worldwide reputation, is just recover
ing from the effects Of his fourteenth
rattlesnake bite. For several years,
"Rattlesnake Pete has held the the
ory that when one Of the creatures sue
ceeded in sinking it's fangs into his
flesh, near an artery, his career would
be abruptly ended, and last Satur-
day he had partial demonstration Of
his theory, which was painfully prac-
tical A large diamond back rattler,
taking the veteran off his guard, push
ed its needle-like fangs. laden with the
deadly venom, into Pete's left wrist
just over the radial artery, which 1t
punctured. In less time than it takes
to tell the story the effects Of the pois-
on were felt, even to the tips Of his
toes, and that, too, in spite Of the fact
that the artery was opened with Ian
Get in about 80 seconds after the pois-
onous weapons had pierced the flesh.
Ten seconds later pete" fell to the
floor unconscious, and physicians say
that a delay of only few seconds In
severing the artery would have cost
him his life, so potent Is the poison
with which nature has provided these
reptiles.
It was the worst experience that
pete" has had during the 80 years that
he had handled snakes; but the acci-
dent has not dampened his ardor one
whit He admits frankly that the
chances are that he will intimately
fall victim to one Of the deadly crea-
lures; but he is not, he says, with alb
solute confidence, taking and greater
risks than many other men Of the pres
ent day who are laboring to solve some
Of the problems Of nature-for that Is
what pete" is doing, and they do him
an injustice who say that he is hand
ling these dangerous reptiles for noto-
riety Of for the mere sake Of bravado.
He believes that everything was made
by the Divine Creator for some pur-
pose beneficial to mankind, and that
not even the serpent is an exception to
this law He asserts that he has al
ready attained some measure of sue
cess by discovering the wonderful med
icinal properties Of the rattlesnake. AS
soon as he is entirely recovered from
his severe injury he will continue his
researches along these lines with re-
newed energy.
."This fastidiousness which people
have about snakes" said "Pete." few
days after he had left the hospital. zig
all nonsense. For me It's genuine
plea sure to handle and study the rep
tiles. and I'm as proud OF the bit OF
paper presented to me at the last snake
show in New York. which certifles that
I'm the most skilful handler Of poison
Gus snakes in this country. as anv COL
lege lad Is Of his sheepskin. Thirty
years ago I saw an old Indian woman
in Pennsylvania kill rattlesnake, and
since then my interest In them has
never Jagged. It's only recently
though. that I've become convinced OF
the wonderful medicinal properties In
the creatures. You've heard, no doubt.
that I cure goitre by applying my
snakes, and in view Of the recent exag-
gerated reports about the treatment /
don't mind telling you my methods.
"The cannibal snake from Florida,
which is non-poisonous and which kills
its victims by crushing 1t, is the most
satisfactory one to use for this opera
ton. If the patient Is lady 1 select
the best looking snake In the lot, and
accustom her to 1t by allowing her to
pet It. Then, holding the head and tall
of the creature behind the patients
head, T let 1t coil slowly around her
neck, watching closely so as to break
the knot which the snake attempts to
form at regular intervals. When first
applied the snake Is naturally cold
and clammy, which occasions the only
really unpleasant sensation In the oper-
alton. Soon, however, the reptile be-
gins to absorb heat, and when 1t Is
removed after an hour or so Its skin IS
hot. It is a fact that women after the
first application are not at all aVerse
to the treatment. I don't know by
what process the swelling is reduced,
nor does anybody else for that matter,
although the scientists In London and
Paris who are discussing the subject
may be able to offer some explanation.
All I know is that the cure Is effected
and that the snake invariably dies af-
ter four or five applications. Those
who have investigated the matter say
that exhaustion causes its death"
But how did you discover the heal
ing properties Of snakes?"
1.-The cure for goitre is not an entire
ly new one; it was employed by the In
dians many years ago. Indeed, 1t
would be we'll for us II we devoted more
attention to some Of these old Indian
remedies. They used the casto11skins
of rattlesnakes for poultices, and the
oil from the fat along the backbone for
sprains and deafness. I've tried both
remedies with success and, so far as l
know, I'm the Standard Oil company
with respect to the latter article.
There's another Indian remedy which
I've never tried; but would try If the
opportunity presented itself. They say
that a positive cure for consumption is
afforded by eating the heart Of rat
tlesnake while it's beating. Such a
ro,radv would Of course be rather dis