The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-08-17
HANGING A COBRA.

A Big Snake With a Boil is Treated
 With Frog Stutfing and TWeezers.
 One of the most dangerous operations ever performed for the person per forming i) was done successfully in the Geological park in the Bronx yes terday morning when Curator Dittmars removed an abscess from the left side of the king cobra's jaw. Nearly twen- tw minutes were occupied in perform ing the operation and every instant of the time Curator Dittipar's arm and hand were within striking distance of | the fangs of snake whose venom is the most deadly of any poisonous re- | ptile's known to naturalists.
 her Bronx king cobra was brought from Singapore nearly year ago, Several weeks ago q slight swelling was noticed on the right side of the cobra S jaw and it was evident that he was considerably annoyed by it for he seemed to take particular pains not to touch the swelling to any hard surface As the snake will shed his skin in a short time, at first it was thought that the swelling came from that cause, but after close observation MT. Dittmars was convinced that king cobra had a boil or an abscess and considering the value of the reptile he began planning to remove the abscess.
 This particular cobra won't eat any thing but other snakes. When first brought to the park to live in captivity he was tempted with plump rabbits, fat rats and well-fed guinea pigs. But he Is a convinced cannibal. It was found necessary to humor his whim and to save expense MT Dittmars hit upon the plan of feeding him snakes stuffed with frogs
 Yesterday was his feeding time. A coachwhip snake which had been starv- ing itself lately was killed and stuffed with a half dozen fat frogs. The stuffed snake was taken to the door of king cobra's cage and thrown in. In twinkling king cobra had him by the neck. He lashed around the cage with the corpse for five minutes and then slowly began to swallow him. In doing so he lay in such position that the arbscess on his jaw was easily visible and within reach from the door
 On the spur of the moment MT. Ditt- mars decided to remove it. He pro cured a long pair of tweezers and glass syringe, and he and Keeper Shy der opened wide the door of the cobras cage. At that the snake edged away into a corner with his prey and dashed his tail up and down the glass parti- tions. Snyder took hold of the dead snakes tail and pulled it toward him. The hungry cobra frightened his hold Snyder used both hands and pulled un- til the head of the cobra was within four feet of the cage door. MT. Ditt- mars filled the syringe from the snakes water pan, and reaching in his arm suuirted the water ali over the cobra's jaw and around the abscess to moisten it. The cobra did not like this, but hung on to the dead snake. Finally MT. Dittmars took the tweezers and leaned in. With his free hand he grasped the body of the coachwhip snake within few inches of the CO., bras head and twisted until the shin ing white jaws of the cobra turned over and then with a delft turn of the twee- gers extracted t.e absGess and jumped away. The operation was performed, and the relief to the snake was obvious for he gulped down his prey in half minute. shot over into his corner, curled himself up and went to sleep.
 MT. Dittmars said that the abscess was probably caused by a slight scratch which developed blood poison ing. He will make a culture of it and analyze it-New York Sun,