The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-11-08
IOL. XXXVIII.--NO.3 9.

Because crotalis is recognized remedy
all handlers of rattlesnakes-the charm
ers, the dealers, the keepers of the snake
houses of geological gardens-have rec
ognized source of income in the extrac-
tion and sale of the venom. But the ex-
traction of the venom is dangerous bust
ness. The snake must first be lassoed.
This is done with sliding loop fastened
on the end of slim pole The loop is
passed over the snakes neck and is drawn
tight by means Of buckle The head is
now as firmly fixed to the end of the pole
as though it were nailed there. The snake
is harmless, unless the hand be pushed
recklessly into its mouth, and can be car
ried in the lasso with perfect safety.
In the procuring of its venom two men
are needed, one to hold the lasso pole and
the snakes madly wriggling body, the
other to hold it's head firm and to press
the venom cup into its mouth. The snake
strikes the cup with its two fangs, leaving
therein about tablespoonful of its poison.
This poison is green and of the thickness
of molasses. 1t sells for 81 25 drachm.
A rattlesnake of good size-a Florida
rattlesnake, say, that is five or six feet in
length-will yield tablespoonful of ven-
ON two or three times month. 1t takes
its poison sacs a week to fill again after
they have been emptied. A rattlesnake,
therefore, after it has bitten one person, is
as harmless, for day or two, as garter
snake.
They who make business of gathering
snake venom have way of procuring that
of the rattle even when the snake is un-
willing to yield it up. They do this by
pressing certain muscle between the ear
and the eye, whereupon the poison sac
opens, and the poison squirts out through
the hollow fangs. They who extract the
venom of the Gila monster must depend on
the reptiles willingness or unwillingness
alone, for there is no muscle here that,
pressed in the manner of an electric but
ton, causes the poison to flow.
There are not many Gila monsters in
captivity, and this venom is, therefore hard
to get. Just now, on account of its SEN
sational success as a remedy for paralysis,
it fetches S. drachm, and is scarce, even
at that figure.
Professor Myron Kirk, formerly of the
Smithsonian institution, at Washington,
has recently given year to the study Of
the Gila monster in the Cocopah desert,
a barren land at the junction of Arizona,
California and Mexico He said the other
day:
''The Gila monster is the most venmous
reptile in North America. Throughout
the Colorado desert and especially along
the ella river you may encounter it in
thousands. 1t is not good to fool with.
One day last June pulled up at little
ranch on the Colorado river. The rancher
had pet Gila that he kept in barrel.
He stopped down to get it out to show
me, when it shut down on his thumb. Its
grip was so tight that its jaws had to be
priced open with an iron bar The rancher
few hours later, died in terrible con-
vulsions
ga barkeeper in Benson was bitten by
by monster through the finger. His
arm swelled, and he suffered great pain in
his back and side. After while the flesh
began to shrivel and within three months
the man whole arm, from the shoulder
down, was as helpless and dead as par
alytics. y
1t is an old and striking thing that the
venom of the ella monster should deal out
paralysis and death on the one hand, and
on the other hand should cure paralysis
and save life.