The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-26
SOMETHING ABOUT
venom OF SNAKES
Is Harmless Unless There lis an
Abrasion Of Skin.
SCIENTIST s. EXPERIENCES
HisDen OF Pets Created Terror Among
Neighborhood Residents-Poison
May Be Swallowed Without
Harmful Results.
SCIENTIST s. EXPERIENCES
AisDen OF Pets Created Terror Among

United States. may be swallowed with
out producing any i'll effects. providing
fe meets with no intiamed surface or
snrasion in the interior of the scientific
person who attempts the experiment.
The harmlessness of the poison when
II does not enter into the blood is vouched
for by DIR. r. L. DitInars, OF the New
York Geological Park, in the Bronx. lie
says IL may be smeared upon the hands
OF face. and. IL there is no scratch or
cut thereon. have no effect upon the
skin Questioned as to how intimately
he knew the subject on which he WIS
speaking, DR.. Ditmars admitted he had
never swallowed rattlesnake poison him
self
1T can be done, however, and wks1
absolute safety he said. II haze mad
the venom spilled over my hands many
times. and have never felt any Ill eL-
fects.'' Then he added: Il ought 10
know something about snakes mad
fifty of them, including copperheads,
water moccss sins. coral snakes, and rat
tIesnakes in my cellar for a week, a
small part of which time tAey were at
large
WEn several other physicians and
scientists DR. Ditmars recently began a
Eeries OF observations on the 'polsons Oh
snakes. An order was dispatched by
them to a collector in Florida. soliciting
q number Of rattlesnalies, mocasns and
others. This was the start OF the enter
prise Events of rather startling ma
ture followed quickly. But the doctor
can tell Of these In his own words.
ITO the lot of the scientist often IAN
unique and embarrassing experiences
he said Il have had my share OF them
After the order was sent to the Florida
collector, search for labo-
ratory was made 1t resulted in the
discovery of place exactly suited to the
purpose and in neighborhood where
no objections could arise A number
of glass-fronted boxes were ordered to be
manufactured and placed in the labora-
tory and with the progress thus far at
tanned we waited for tidings from the
Florid collector. They came. but in
form that was wholly beyond anticipa-
ton.
HAD A LOAD OF SNAKES
"One evening answered a ring at my
doorbell. An express wagon stood out
side. from which the driver was re-
moving two large boxes.
1--we got a bunch OF snakes out here!
he shouted Justify. AS this happened on
an evening when neighbors were grouped
on numerous nearby verandas the eX-
pressman's vocal energy was embarrass-
Ing.
The boxes were taken into the cellar.
From one came the continuous raSpnS
sound indicative of the candal appendage
o. the.rattlesnake. This sound huctuated
at times. growing stronger as the box wa
uncerenoniously dumped from the truck,
and owing to the fact that in the semi
darkness, silent spectators could be seen
intently studying every phase OF the
maneuvers. ! perspired more than nor
mally while the boxes were being taken
into the cellar
with the boxes once inside and the
noisy expressman dispatched. realization
dawned quickly. This was the answer to
the order. Without warning, in shape Of
letter or telegram. the enthusiastic
snake collectorhad forwarded to us two
boxes Of deadly snakes. a need Of water
cages and food, but we were without
accommodations to supply the same. for
the laboratory could not be made ready
within a week. There was no help for it.
however: the snakes had to be looked
after, temporarily Gagged and watered
or they would Gle.
SCIENTISTS FAMILY NOT PLEASED.
Upstairs in the den. the family
called 1t, was a collection of some two
dozen harmless snakes. but all the cages
were filled. Upon hearing the music OF
tn enewly arrived rattlesnakes, the fam
iiy refused to allow them upstairs. BoaS
and lively blacksnakes were considered
bad enough and formed the limit TO
liberation.
Persuasion of an oratorical and des-
perate nature, however, resulted in per-
mission to convert the cellar into what
certain members of the household in
sisted would become veritable chamber
OF error. Emphatic recommendations
to lock all doors leading to the place
accompanied the concession.
There were three old trunks in the
cellar. which 1t was determined to utilize
as snake cages. In the first part of the
proceedings it was necessary to appropri-
ate several large drinking dishes for
the reptiles. This relationship OF house
hold utensils to the snakes comfort
was soon discovered by the cook, who
at once condemned the dishes for any
future use in the face of an enthusiast
tic attempt on my part TO explain that
snakes was the most clearly creatures
ina ginable.
1.-The crates were opened and from one
of them five huge rattlesnakes were TAX
en- Formidable enough these reptiles ap-
peared as they drew their rough bodies
into fighting coils on the concrete floor,
while they watched with glittering eyes
every movement about them.
THE EXPERIENCE OF '.HENNY.''
"a young man from nearby grocery,
the work. Henry was enga ged in open
ing the second crate when particularly
big rattlesnake threw himself into a
fghting coil some eight feet from him.
and sounded Oft With one accord
mer. the claw end of which was in
serted between the crate and the cover
and fed. His heavy figure approa ched
the cellar stairs on an elephantine run,
up which he Numbered amid a burst of
Teutonic adjectives. There was slam
OF the uppe: door, heavy footballs on the
floor above, and .Henny's' services came
TO an end. This was only laughable
however, and I was enjoying the situa-
ton until my eyes rested on the box
which Henry had partially opened.
From that box was issuing a process
sion OF scmher, olive-colored snakes, the
reptiles eyes scintlllating in the gaslight
as they glided for wood-pile and coal
heap The cellar was rapidly becoming
populated with water moccasins, which
continued to issue with apparent uncon-
cern to the music OF the five big rattle
snakes.
THE situation was becoming decided