davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

an adequate remedy for rattlesnake bites
and this is probably the worst form OF
snake poisoning that we Americans are
likely to encounter. A discussion of the
remedies for snake bites would be incom-
anti-toxin treatment. In this the serum
Is obtained much in the same manner as
the anti-diphtheria serum, 1. e., by in
oculating horses with cobra poison. 1t can
be procured from the Pasteur Institute at
Lille, France, and Is said to have both
preventive and therapeutic effects.
DIR. Stejneger of the National Museum
says: I'm very acute cases, in which the
venom has been injected directly into the
circulation, no matter by what kind Of a
snake, the chances for recovery are very
slight indeed. The only chance in such
cases seems to be to stimulate the nervous
centers speedily as possible the best
known means to this end being injection Of
large doses of strychnine, If necessary,
intravenously. until tetanic effects are OBJ
tanned, and the patient is aroused from the
coma which has probably seized him. This
remedies. as the case may require. can then
be applied. DR.. Stejneger is of the opinion
that, as rule amputation or cauterization
should be resorted to only in very extreme
cases. where the victim is absolutely iso-
lated and far removed from any oppcr-
tunity to seek proper treatment. After
ALL" he adds, the main thing really to
be done is to assist nature in her
effort to get rid of the poison by
keeping the sufferer alive until by natural
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

enough solution Of potassa or soda its
power to kill Is destroyed. What a bless
ing this discovery has been and may be to
untold thousands. Again, by the use Of a
solution Of iodine. perchlorde of iron or
bromohydic acid the virulence of the
poison Is nullified, but in a somewhat lesser
degree. DR.. Mitchell regards permangan
ate of potash as the best solution, and he
remarks that If this agent be injected as
soon as possible through a hollow needle
wherever 1t touches venom it destroys it.
IF at once we can cut off the circulation
by ligature,' he writes, land thus delay
absorption, and then use permanganate
freely we certainly lessen the chances Of
DEATH"
The first effect Of snake venom seems to
be to lessen suddenly the pressure under
which the blood is kept while in the ves-
sells, and at that stage any alcoholic stimu-
liant would be useful, although it can hardly
be doubted that many a man has been
killed by too powerful a stimulant, and
affirms that men dead drunk with whisky
and then bitten have died from the effects
of the bite.
DR.. A Calmette Of Paris found by ex-
pertinent several years ago that hypo-
c1llorites of sodium and lime would neutral
lie snake venom by chemical action. Chic
ride Of gold was found to be of equal
value, but ordinary chloride Of lime per-
haps gave the. best results of all. He
moreover expressed himself certain that
III the absence of any other remedy this
aforementioned substance would prove to be
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

processes it has passed out Of his system.
DR.. Mitchell was once piled with queries
as to what he would do IL he were bitten y
poisonous snake while far away from
help. He replied: IF the wound were
at the tip of a finger l should
like to get rid of the part by soma such
possibly hot iron. affords. Failing these,
or while seeking help, it would be wise TO
quarantine the poison by two lgatures
drawn tight enough to stop all circulation
The heart weakness is made worse by
emotion, and at this time g. man may need
stimulus to enable him to reach home AS
soon as possible some one should infltrate
the seat of the bite with permanganate or
some other OF the agents above men,
toned By working and kneading the
tissues the venom and the antidote may
be made to come into contact, and the
former be so far destroyed. At this time it
becomes needful to relax the ligatures to
escape gangrene. This relation. of course,
in few moments it is possible again to
tighten the lgatures and again to inject
the local antidote. If the dose of venom
be large and the distance from help great.
except the knife cautery, little or any
value can be done. But il is well TO bear
In mind that in this country a bite in the
extremities rarely causes death l have
known of nine dogs being bitten by
many snakes, and OF these only two died.
In India there would have been probably
nine dead dogs
R. I. GEARE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
Dhno@ ReTnE1nAG @e7Ary5 AAnAn1cy1)

are perhaps more to be dreaded than any
other American snake, as they have no
rattle with which to sound an alarm.
Their movements, too, are very rapid, and
they are also much more aggressive than
the rattlesnakes. Copperheads seldom ex-
coed three feet in length. Their bodies,
which strong and thick, terminate in a
short tail. provided underneath with a
row Of shields. They are generally found
on low ground between the forty-ift par
allel Of north latitude and the extreme
south of the eastern United States. Like
all other crotalids, the copperhead pro-
duces its young alive, the average number
being from seven to nine.
The water moccasin Is very venomous,
and is really more to be dreaded than the
rattlesnake. as 1t will attack anything and
everything in sight, and without apparent
provocauon. Its color Is greenish- brown,
and it may be easily recognized by num-
Der Of dark bands somewhat similar to
those of the copperhead. Its range extends
from North Carolina along the coast to the
Mexican boundary. and also a considerable
distance up the Mississippi river and some
Of its tributaries One authority states
that the copperhead delights in climbing
trees-apparently for the pleasure of bask-
ing in the sun"
Most conspicuous among the pit vipers.
which are common to Asia we'll as
America, are the dread rattesnakes, which
group Of them is, however, confined to
America alone. They are distinguished
from other snakes by the jointed horny
appendage at the end of the tail, commonly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

known as the rattle" In young speci-
mems the tail ends in a single button,
which is nothing more than the last joint,
but by the time the snake has reached
maturity, twenty or more rings may have
been interpolated between 1t and the scaly
portion Of the tail.
The most prominent kinds Of rattlesnake
are the banded (also known as the
northern or "tmber) and the "dia-
mond," although several other species &C.
cur, only these two will receive considera-
ton here.
The banded RATHER occurs as far north
as the middle Of New England and New
York state, west as far as the Rockies and
south to the gulf states. They are now
comparatively scarce, owing to the great
advance made during recent years in the
cultivation Of the land. About sixty years
ago, however, Dekay, a noted observer Of
snakes, wrote: Two men In three days
| killed l, 104 rattlesnakes on the east side of
Tongue mountain, IN the town of Bolton.
from fifteen to twenty rattes. They were
killed for their oil or grease. which Is said
to be very valuable" In II Is they are
increasing in numbers. for vii as in years
| past the pigs roamed at will and extermi-
| mated the snakes. now they are penned up,
| as a rule, and SO the snakes live and multi
| ply without porcine interference The food
| of the banded rattlesnake consists chiefly
| Of rabbits, squirrels rats, mice and some
| times birds 1t is naturally a sluggish
| reptile, but when irritated it's whole atti-
| tude changes like lightning. Within a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
~ a. ~

| away the blood oh dear me, how care
less" and laughed. and let It go at that
The patron took all those gashes In
grave silence. But when the shave was
over. he filled a glass at the ce-cooler,
took a mouthful of water. and with com
pressed lips proceeded to shake his head
from side to side, and to toss K up and
down.
What Is the natter the barber asked.
You aim got the toothache. have your?
No said the customer 4 only lust
wanted to see If my mouth would still hold
water without leaking, that was all
Hard Knocks.
Jim tombstone. the famous base ball UNI
ball crowds were far kinder to umpires
than they used to be.
This is true OF theater crowds. too"
said Mr.. tombstone. why with provin-
cial touring companies In the past NAL
treatment was regularly expected In fact,
the companies profited by It in more WAYS
than one.
II know Of company that was playing
The Broken Vow in Paint Rock a one
night stand. The audience didn't like Tho
Broken Vow and eggs. cabbages and POI
tatoes rained upon the stage.
still the play went on. The hero raved
onion or base ball every other minute,
and pretty sore from those missiles that
he hadn't been able TO dodge.
But finally a gallery auditor. In
paroxysm of rage and scorn. hurled "a
heavy boot and the actor, thoroughly
alarmed, started to retreat,
Keep on playing, you fool Kissed the
manager from the wings as he hooked in
the boot with an umbrella. Keep on till
We get the other one.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

James Wilson. the Secretary OF Agricul
ture. was discussing in Washington the aid
which his department gives the American
farmer
Secretary Wilson pointed out the benefit
that had been derived from the introduce
lion OF darum wheat. Of the wheat-testing
,raChine and Of the method of extracting
potash from granite.
In fact" said Mr. Wilson, smiling. u be
llev.. that eventually our finest products Will
he cbaap enough to be within the reach OF
ALI Then the story OF the boy and the hot
house grapes Will ne as dead and antiauated
as the theater hat stories Of the past.
,.-TEis boy-he was a bootbla ck-entered a
procrr's one day. and, pointing to some
superb grapes said;
'Wots the price o them there, mister?
one dollar pound, my lad, the clerk
replied. -.
face and lie said hastily:
Then give US cents worth o carrots
I'm dead nuts frult. ~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

second or two 1t coils itself, shakes its
tattles violently and strikes at whatever
happens to be within reach.
The diamond rattlesnake is strictly a
southern species, its range being confined
favorite haunts are damp, shady places
1t differs from other rattlesnakes in colora-
ton, the ground color being a beautiful
graenish or occasionally a golden brown:
on this is traced a triple lozenge-shaped
chain pattern on each side Of the back
the golden yellow lines Of which stand out
in marked contrast to the dark diamonds
Of the ground color. A blackish- brown
band runs from the muzzle through each
eye to the corner of the mouth, and the
top Of the head Is either uniformly colored
or else it is ornamented with irregular
markings.
Numerous methods Of treatment have
been suggested for snake poisoning and
in many cases the discoverer doubtless be-
lieved his own remedy to be the all-and-
only powerful one. Most Of them how
ever. had been given to the world before
really consisted OF. They must therefore,
have been largely guesswork at best, but
when such specialists as Weir Mitchell,
Calmette, Stejneger and others had con-
cluded their experiments and observations.
then and then only could remedies be
formulated a scientific basis.
From DR.. g. Weir Mitchell we learn that
by mixing any venom with a strong
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

at hand when such accidents are
II..a, 60 happen. especially to our adj
ver.ur,as youngsters. are the principal
r,as.ns for the following remedies about
tic rofagurus snakes native to this country.
IL North Am rica emitting Mexico, there
are about twenty yenomaus kinds OF
SNAKES IN 'udlne the eIap!ds or coral
snakes tae cprrerhead. thu water mecca
s.a -v. S.uEs @. sis-urrs tthe ground rat
TER and tAe u.aEsasausaJ. besld s q num-
her ~ SPECIES If ralleauake. such as the
'deg-sas,.-' banded" diamond Tex
as" I'D diamond pacific" tiger"
horned" green" white red" and
Pres ra;tl=zrake.
The harlequin Il bead snake (balongng
with tie coral snakes is found In Virginia.
Georgia Florida. Alabama. North ana
South Carolina, Mississippi and north along
the Mississippi. Missouri and Ohio rivers.
1t IS gentle in disposition, although pos
sessz d o! poisonous fangs, fastened one on
each side OF the upper jaw to the anterior
end of the maxillary bone Its favorite
haunt is underground in sweet potato fields,
where 1t Is frequently unearthed by labor
ers in harvesting. This snake Is very
prettily marked. having q ground color OF
red with numerous black rings and inter-
mediate spaces of yellow. The tail is alter
nately black and yellow.
The Sonoran coal snake belongs to the
lower Sonoran province, but seems re-
stricted to the regions east of the great
Colorado river and west of the continental
divide. 1t has been found as far north as
Fort Whipple and also at certain points in
southern Arizona and Mexico. Its colora-
ton is peculiarly pretty. The front part
A.
yellow or creamy-wiite ring. and behind
this is a broad light brick-red ring. In
volvng eleven scales. Next comes another
creamy white ring. followed by a black ring
eight scales wide. Then come black and
red rings alternately, separated by white
rings. In brief. there eleven black and
eleven red rings on the body, separated by
twice az many white ones. The tail is
ringed with black and white, without any
red
The coral snakes gentle and even
amiable, but when provoked they can in
fliCt a more venomous bite than rattle
snake or noCCasin of the same size In
deed. there may be said to exist kind OF
relationship between the coral snakes and
the Indian cobra. since the external and
internal structure is very similar in each,
although the snakes differ so entirely in
general appearance.
Leaving out the coral snakes, all other
North American venomous snakes are
grouped as pit vipers or crotalids, the
word pit referring 10 the deep depression
found IN all rattlesnakes, cOpperheads and
moccasins on both sides of the face be-
tween the nostrH and the eye. If this
depression Is not there 1t is certain that
the snake is not a crotalid.
Coprcrhcads. also known In different To-
calltIes upland moeCasin." chunk
heau" deaf adder" pilot snake etc,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
The Wrong One.

Martin S. Decker of New Paltz Is one Of
the public utilities commissioners Of New
York. a body of men with sweeping jurts-
dicuon over the street and steam railways
and the gas and electric companies of the
state.
Mr. Decker, discussing the duties of his
new post the other day, said:
ours is work that must be done with the
utmost prudence and care. Nothing must
be undertaken by us hastily, or else we shall
find ourselves IN the position of the new
school superintendent.
There was, you know, a new superin-
tendent appointed to certain school-a
Jealous man, but a choleric and hasty one
as we'll
Now It happened that on the day of his
arrival at the school while he was working
hard in his office maddening noise arose
in the room next to him.
The superintendent stood this noise as
long as he could. Then he looked over the
glass partition into the Sproarious room
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
ANECD0TE

and In order to help his campaign along the
woman gave q garden party, to which
every voter for miles around was invited.
Among the humble guests was a very in
dependent grocer The grocer made him
self quite at home No dukes manner
could have been easier and freer. Indeed,
the mans total lack of subservience anger
ed his hostess extremely, so that in the end.
to him significantly:
You know Mr.. Green's in London shop
keepers don't go into the best society
The grocer looked at her. and nodded and
smiled.
They don't here, either ma'am' he
/ said
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
Caste I'm American.

The late Francis Murphy" said Pitts
burg man was perhaps the greatest tenn
perance reformer our country has ever
seen over ten million people, thanks to his
labors. took the pledge
MIR Murphy. a plain. sincere man, hated
snobbishness hardly less than drunkenness.
AT dinner here in Pittsburg i once heard
him rebuke, with a little anecdote snob-
bish millionaire.
He said there was a rich and snobbish
Englshwoman living In the country. Her
husband put himself up for a political place,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

of shilling for two miles. Try cab-riding
without liberal tipping, and the cabmen
will assail you with the most brilliant and
witty sarcasm.
II know lawyer who. through igno-
rance, rode from the British Museum to
| the Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly, and only gave
his driver the shilling required by law.
The driver looked at this shilling and
bit his lip. Then, in the most courteous
manner, he motioned to the lawyer to get
In again.
Go on he said. Do step in again, sir
for this ere
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
A Felicitous Aside.

Senator Beveridge, describing campaign
wherein he had outgeneraled a rival.
said.
When It became plain that victory was
mine, when my opponents face began to
grow darker and more forbidding, smiled
to myself; I could have muttered to myself
some such felicitous aside as that which
came from the small boy who was being
spanked.
I'm the course OF his spanking the boy s
mother paused to s-y In sincere tones:
Tommy, this hurts me far more than
1t does you
And thereupon, In his odd face-down-
ward position. the boy winked and NUT
tered to himself:
~ was afraid that hard board l put in
the seat Of my trousers might inture her
delicate hand"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
The Retort Courteous.

Paul Morton, the president Of the Equita-
BILE Life Assurance Society, was taking
on La Savoie about the London cabby
"A hanson or a four-wheeler is supposed
to be cheap in London" Mr.. Morton said;
but let the average American tourist go
driving about in one of them day after
day, and at the weeks end the size Of his
expenditure will shock him
''Of course 1t is impossible to ride In g
London cab and pay only the legal fare
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
A Rough Passage.

Jacob Hope, the head Of Philadelphia's
famous photograph school for parrots, said
the other day:
There are worse things than Q swearing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

Jesse Lewisohn. the noted f1nancier, told
at a shareholders meeting in New York
a railroad story.
America has a good many railroad &C
cidents,' he began, but we must remem-
Der that America is immense country,
with an immense railroad traffic. Our
roads on the whole are carefully and in
diligently managed. They are not man
aged in the least like q road l heard a
story Of the other day.
1T was before the war, and northerner
was travelling on little railway In New
England. Suddenly. in an out-of-ths-w way
spot the train halted, and the brakeman
leaped out and ran up the track. On the
brakeman's return the tourist said to him
This Is queer place to stop. There s
no station here. What's the trouble any
way?
oh nothin' Of any consequence, the
brakeman answered. The signal wuz agin
now Wen go on agin directly"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
Reckless Railroading.

prop'ty am too onsartin, sab, to put any
money In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

and saw among the noisy lads assembled
there a tallish chap who seemed to be maxi
ing more of row than all the rest COM
bined.
tendent reached out his arm, seized the tall
boy by the collar, dragged him over the
partition and banged him down into a chair
beside his desk.
Now he said sit still there and don't
open your lips till give you the word.
Then he bent over his papers, and in
the ensuing quietude worked away busily.
Some fifteen minutes passed. Then the
head of a small boy peered timidly over the
partition, and meek little voice said:
PLEASE, sir, you've got our teacher
Speculation.
Morris Sellers Largely, the young Mon
tana millionaire. who Is devoting himself
to the theatrical business, said at dinner,
apropos of his new theater in New York:
Il think that theatricals offer a fine field
for shrewd investors. They are very steady.
They are not as the slave trade was during
| the civil war.
Perhaps you have heard of the slave
who wanted to buy his freedom. This was
good slave, his master would not sell him
to himself at any price.
But as the war approached its end the
master. not unnaturally changed his mind.
He sent for the slave one morning, and
asked him If he was still of the same
| mind about purchasing himself.
The slave scratched his head looked at
| the ground, and faltered;
Well. Marse Henry, All did wanter buy
| mahsef, but All been a-studyin' erbout 1t
| right smaht lately sab, an All done come
70 de 'clusion dat in desc times niggah
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
Let Off EASY.

Lincoln Beachy. the well-known aero
naut, was criticising in New York the air
ship of q rival.
Il don't want to be too severe on this
dangerous contrivance OF yours Mr.
Beachy said. 1T is a bad affair all through
but I am willing to let II off easy, as the
customer did with the careless barber
There was a barber In South Bend, who
having been out late the night before, had
shaky hand the next morning. and cut
q Patrons cheek four times. After each
accident the barber said, as he sponged
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
A Good Guide.

A Good Guide.
Gov. Vardaman of Mississippi In the
course of an address in Jackson repeated
pithy saying of the famous Bishop Will
berforce.
Bishop Wilberforce,' he said, was out
driving one day when a man on horseback
stopped him, and, thinking to have a joke,
asked:
EXCUSE me. bishop. but could you tell
me the road to heaven?
Certainly. sir the bishop answered
Turn to the right and keep straight on "
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

parrot, and one was brought over a
German boat last month. HIS owner. a
no profanity, and a lady bought him.
But She had to bring him to me. The
parrot, though he didn't swear had evi,
IDENTIFY spent most of his time on shipboard
In the ladies' saloon, for what he Woula
do was this:
For hours at a time he would choke
and gasp and hiccough as II he'd never
stop, and then he'd sing out feeoly' Stew
arl-buCket -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

Correrheads. also known in different 10
Calltlcs as upland mOccasin." chunk
head" deaf adder" pilot snake" etc.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
GRoUND RATTlESNAKE
TSiSTRURUS NIL IARIUS)

tlLNT notices Of injuries caused
Ivy bites n the woods and
water near Washington, coupled
with the fact that the season IS
at hand when such accidents are
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-21
FOR HOSPITAL DAY
Governor Woodruff Promises 10 Attend To-Morrow's Exercises.

Tomorrow will be a big day in waterbury. The corner stone of St Mary's hospital at the corner of Un- ion and Franklin street will be laid by Right Rev Bishop Tierney, assist ed by number of priests from all over the diocese. The sermon will De delivered by Father Neale of PTerryville. The ceremony will be preceded by a big parade. Societies intending to take part in the process sion are requested to meet at their respective quarters at 80 o'clock in the afternoon. A. good deal of work mas already been done on the hospital and people who have not been in that ne!ghborhood since it started Will turn out tomorrow if not to parade to see the sights.
 Word was received from Gov ernor Woodruff to-day that he would be present. All the city officials will attend, so that the day promises to be one of more than ordinary interest to Waterbury people in general and the Catholics in particular.