Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-07-26
VACCINATION FOR
RATTLESNAKE BITE

Some scientific experiments that are
now being made regarding the POSSIBLE
ity OF immuning animals ana human
beings from the toxic effects of snake
bites, particularly that of the Ameri-
can rattlcsnake. are of the greatest In
terest to those states and sections
where such dangers prevail. This Is
true In Colorado in I some sections.
The bites OF r,ttlesnakes not only deci-
mate the herds OF cattle and horses but
are a standing menace TO life. some
OF the experiments are being made by
the government and some by privatein-
dividuals. A report on some OF the eX-
perlments will he made ut the coming
convention OF the American Association
for the Advancement of Science IN TINS
city and the question will he freely DIS
cusscd. rs the topic Is one that admits
Of n number OF views. In general II IL
however admitted that horses can be
immuncd from the bite and poison or
II rattlesnake and thus is dednced the
theory that man can likewise. As yet
no one has volunteered To be the horri-
ole example. but scientists are patient
and long enduring.
one great difficulty has stood In tho
way OF experiments OF immunins
horses from the venom OF the rattle
snake. When the famous calmetfe
made his experiments ON Senomous
scrpcnis the American rattlcsnake was
not on his list. Had lie used one OF
these snakes he would have had se-
rious check from the start. In inject
ing the venom OF n r.ittlcsnake into the
veins OF horse II was found that the
greatest degree OF local irritation fol-
lowed. which counterucied any good
that the experiment would disclose.
The cSpcrlmcntcrs then tried heating
the venom. Al 80 degrees Cnlmctti
found that nil OF the Irritating effect OF
the venom OF cobra was lost. The
same heating by the American cSpcri-
mcnicrs OF the venom OF n ra,tlcsnnkc
disclosed the fact that l, then lost all
Its toxic properties. II was found nee
cssary to inject the dried venom In its
normally nctiv. condition. The injcc-
tions were given simultaneously and
Were followed by enormous c,lcmlin.
nccros.s ana slouehs. SO that after de-
icrtninlng that no immunity To III"
local action developed this method was
abandoned and the intraycnous used.
II has been shown ihni after this
method the Interior af the vessels
showcl no signs OF injury. because the
wcli-iIlutcL venom met with gr.atcr
iilution IN tho circulating blood. No
local or other irriiniiyc disturbances
followed the in'tav-nots Injection. but
the nervous Impression wns profound.
the horse often fell and remained un.
CONSCIOUS for several minutes. Two OF
the three horses died before nntivrninc
developed from the damage to the It's
SIZES rs n result OF til. Irritation pro-
iuci by the subcuinncous Injection.
AniiS-ninc was obtained from the
third animal. II met death. however.
from nm accidental entrance Of the
venom Injection into the jusulnr vein.
The nn'ivrninc obtained was injected
into rabbit. two ccntim-icrs. aud II
protected the animal against full
d"sc Of the raiii-$nnk- venom. From
this l. dc'lucci the theory that people
cnn bc immunci from snnkc.bi,c poi.
son. hut ih" practical m-ihoi OF oh.
inininr the nntivcninc with surety.
1ni III. absence OF practical expert.
mcn's on human being leaves the
matter In ih. ranks Of theory.