The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-02-20
SNAKES.
Some Strenuous Inhabitants of the Jun
giles of Asia.

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Contrary to general belief, the python
or boa constructor rarely attacks people
and is looked upon very differently by
the people than are the hamadryad and
cobra. The python will take up his
abode in a neighborhOOd and will not
disturb anything except the hen roosts;
these he disturbs very much, as he has
great fOndness for chickens, also for a
stray dog or small goat. l know of one
case, however, in floating house, where
python attacked woman, and, con-
trary to the preconceived idea, did not
crush her in his folds, but attempted to
swallow her, commencing with one of
her feet. When she was rescued her
foot and ankle were badly lacerated by
the snakes teeth. The Chinese kill the
python to make medicine from the liver,
which has high repute among them.
They also use the dried skin for medi-
cine. Any Chinese drug shop in Siam
Will have Il number of python skins for
sale.
One of the most important things TO
know about snake bites is that the pOis-
Onous snake, such as the hamadyrad, cobra
ETC., leave on the individual only the two
punctures of the poison fangs, while the
less poisonous and harmless snakes leave
besides the two punctures the marks Of
adventurous teeth. This is most inn
portant in prognosis, as being called to
see persons bitten who were showing
great shock it helps physician and pa
tlent materially to assure the patient that
while he may be very ill. he will not
die.
There is only one snake III the far
east, that is in India, Burma, Siam and
the Malay peninsula, that will always
and at all times attack a man on sight.
IS HOY n
feared than any other animal that
crawls. Fortunately for mankind they
are not common, except in limited dis
tricts. They are so feared by all that
the native Shikarris or hunters will go
miles out of their way to avoid the 20
cality in which they are known to exist.
The hamadryad will stalk a man as a
tiger stalks his prey. Mr.. Leonowens,
who as boy was educated with the
present King of Siam, and who is inter
ested in teak forests, told me he had
seen elephants die in half an hour after
being bitten, and that he always carried
shotgun loaded with buckshot when III
the jungle infested by them. He said
that one Of his men, Burmese, was
chased by one and escaped by throwing
away his clothing piece by piece, the
snake stopping each time to bite the
clothing. He shot the snake himself
just as the man fell exhausted near
him.
These two snakes, the hamadryad and
cobra, cause the great annual death roll
of India from snake bite, about $4,000
people last year. One reason for this
great death roll is that Hindus and Bud
dhists will not kill the snakes, as it is
against their religion to take life. The
cobra will go away from you usually
except in the nesting season. and then
he will attack you on sight if you disturb
him or his mate. 1t is at this time that
SO many deaths take place among the
Malays and Siamese, as it is coincident
with the rice planting season, and the
peasants are busily at work in the rice
fields. The cobra will bite under water,
and many people are bitten on the foot
or heel while planting rice. Death
usually takes place in an hour or less.
have known large buffalo to be bitten
and die in fifteen minutes. 1t must have
been bitten directly into a vein.
In the Malay peninsula and in Siam no
one ever walks abroad after dark with
out lamp or torch, as it proves almost
suicidal to do so.-Medical Journal.