The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-10
ABOUT RATTLEsNAKES.
Bite Of the "Massasuaqa" 10 Deadly
and Causes Madness.
Chicago News.)


Chicago NewB.D
A recent edition OF the Daily News
contained an article telling OF a con-
troversy between certain professors of
the Smithsonian Institution as to the
effect on human beings of the venom
Two of these professors hold that there
is no authentic instance on record In
the United States Of the death OF a
grown person from snake bite. Conclu-
sive data on the mooted subject is not
TO be had. This article will deal only
with the several varieties OF the crota-
Jus, more Familiarity known as the rat
tlesnake. Although the yellow or tim
Der and mountain variety is the largest,
~ is not so dangerous as the other two.
The action of its venom does not show
the same degree of acute intensity. The
variety is more numerous in the heav-
lily timbered region OF the east and the
Allegheny. Blue Ridge and Smoky
mountains.
The variety found i'm the west, and
particularly on the plains. is smaller
or dingy color and more specifically
known as the ''massasuaga." and is ex-
tremely dangerous. L have had con-
siderable experience with the snake and
know personally of several deaths
from its bite. All % these persons were
under Is years of age, and In each case
the best known and most approved rem
edies were promptly and intelligently
| applied. Young PERSONS being heed
less, are more liable to be bitten than
their elders. 1 was credibly informed
OF one case OF robust, middle-aged
man who was bitten by "massasau-
ga, but recovered after a period of
great physical anguish, accompanied by
incipient madness, The distressing
symptoms being annually recurrent,
though happily in a modified form.
The black diamond or water rattle
~ shy, is not numerous and is found
only along the water courses OF the
southern states.
The part of the body bitten and the
condition of the person at the time of
being bitten have an important bearing
On the outcome OF snake bite. Should
the tangs pierce vein or artery and
the person be overheated, with the
| blood couTsing swiftly from exertion.
the case Is grave and the best treat
rnent promptly applied is likely to be Of
no avail.
Full-grown animals in good condition.
! either wild or domestic, seldom, suc-
cumb to snake bite. They recover in
a few days, doctOring themselves bv
methods prompted by instinct. Dogs
horses and cattle are frequently bitten.
Cats and mules are never bitten. The
habits OF cats, their acute senses. alert
watchtulness and lightning-like rapid
ity of movement in moments of danger
| stand them in good stead. Their
| proving is done at night, while snakes
are daylight providers.
Mules are fnstinctivelv on guard
against snakes and have the faculty ~
discovering the presence Of a snake i'm
time to avoid contact. Hogs are the
natural enemies of snakes and unless
bitten on the tongue suffer no i'll effects
from being ranged" They pounce
upon snakes at sight with great fury.
tearing them to pieces and devouring
them.
Rattlesnakes exhale a peculiar odor
and their venom appears to attain its
greatest Virulence in the month of Aug
| ust.
No matter how often or under what
circumstances a person may hear the
warning rattle always sounded except
during the shedding period, this start
! ing sound gives momentary unnerv-
ing shock or dread. The rapidity of the
| Migratory action of the rattlers when
being sounded is renlarka bic and the
act of striking out with the fanes Is
done quickly. Otherwise, the move
ments of these snakes are sluggish.
would hesitate to advise the two pro-
fessors to seek 10 demonstrate their
theory by personal experiment with
the ''massasauga." It would be tanta
mount to an invitation for a call from
the grim reaper.