The Washington times., 1904-09-27
WHAT IS THE RESULT

Of the difference in the length Of tho
snakes, real or apparent, the longer one
being first 10 reach and swallow the
head Of its antagonist
Assuming that the snakes are OF equal
length. during the process Of swallow
ing there viii be an apparent inequality
in the length OF each in the proportion
To the rapldity Of the process Of swal-
lowing The mOE@~ rapid swallowing
snake becomes apparently the longer,
with its head at a greater distance from
Now the victor having swallowed the
head OF its opponent. If il be a sensible
snake, Will await results. namely. suf-
location and death OF its rival. and the
ultimate releasing OF its own tail. per-
haps somewhat predigested- Very re-
speCtfully, c Z.
Baltimore. Nd.
Scientific Consideration"
20. Z. D." sends a very minute ex-
PLANTATION of what he thinks would hap
pen. in the following letter:
The Snake Editor Of The Times
The several attempted solutions u
Z your snake problem appear TO be evas-
I i've, frivolous, and IncOnclusive- Yet
the question is well worthy OF seriOCs
and scientific consideration in its bear
B iEgs upon the doctrine Of heredlty and
I the survival Of the nttest- Now, then,
\ X is plain sailing until each reptile has
/ swallowed half Of the other, but at
/ that point h begins 10 swallow himself
I previously swallowed by the other
; snake. There is no reason. however,
/ why he should stop at this point, and in
Z swallowing the whole OF the other snake
/ he has certainly swallowed himself
/ Now. having reached the point whore
I eICu snake n1S swallowed Lne 0LncE
and himself included therein, we have
I - inquire definitely what happened
/ when a snake swallowed himself Much
/ depends upon his way Of proceeding
/ Clearly If he begins by swallowing his
I own head. and so on backward. ne VIII
/ end by turning himself wrong side out
/ Now. we may observe that would be
a process Of disgOrglng. going on sim
ulJaueoUSly with the swallowing pro-
u cess the TWO thiugs contracting each
other. so that in the end each snake
/ would have swallowed and disgorged tho
other, thus restoring the status quo
ante. and the result is nil
/ But il is not granted FOR moment
that the snake swallows himself back
ward On the contrary. he proceeds IN
a straightforward manner tail hrst- and
II might here be asked. When he came
10 swallow his own head where would
his tail be? But that is inmateriaL
The tail viii take care OF Itself.
/ The general conclusion is that eaCh
snake has swallowed the other and the
other has swallowed each Nothing
palmer. But I do not say that each
snake viii be found In the Wind-up,
both inside and outside the other AT
least not in both places at the same
time. mark YOU. The element of time
comes in and settles everything
raSsad inside the other come out again
and get outside the other and 90 on so
circulating I'D infinitUm? Nothing
easier - T. l.
He is Right.
..Osceola the Seminole thinks he has
the correct solution Here is what he
has to say
Washington. D. c., Sept &c. 1884
To the Snake Editor.
I am of the opinion that the snake
question" is of highbaU origin. How
ever j am thoroughly convinced that
have the correct solution.
Ny idea briefly stated is this;
Z Both snakes continue 10 swallow each
other until only the heads of each are
visible Then. sIppOSing that one snake
were stronger than the other what Is
the RESULT Why. the stronger srake
exert!ug its strength would draw It's
body from its opponents mouth ana
promptly swallow him Why not
Yours. truly. -
OSCEOLA THE SEMINOLE
Address all communicates 70 the
j Snake Editor.