The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-04-30
POISON IS TAKEN
FROM A VIPER
operation on Most Poisonous of All
Snakes.
VALUABLE SERUM FURNISHED.
FURNISHED.
Scientists Obtain Supply of the Most
Deadly Known Poison From Snake
Captured in Wilds of Brazils With
Great Difiiculty-One-third of Tea
spoonful of Poison Was Obtained.


spoonful of Poison Was Obtained.
New York Especially For the first
time in 80 years and the second time
in the history of the science OF
medicine an operation for the extrac.
tlon or venom from the deadly lance
mead viper, said to be the most poi
sonous of ali known reptiles, was per.
formed at the Bronx Geological Park.
The operation, which was directed
Dy Il. w. Runyon. of this city
through whose efforts the snake was
coptured and brought to New York,
was a complete success and as a
result science once more has a plen-
tiIuI supply of the serum which has
Deen round almost invaluable in the
treatment of extreme cases OF in
SANITY ana also OF many of the malig-
nant diseases.
me extremely powerful nature OF
the lancehead's venom can be no bet
ter described, probably. than by the
declaration Of one of the scientists
who witnessed the operation. When
the perilous task had been complet ed
and the precious fluid had been care
tully weighed and found to be less
than a third of an ordinary teaspoon
1ul in quantity, he announced that the
supply was ample to meet the de-
mands OF the world for at least half
a century.
he explained at the same time
that this would provide for the most
widespread use of the serum in all
Cne malignant diseases such as ty-
phodd and scarlet fever and diphtheria.
30 powerful is the action that il is
prescribed only in the most minute
quantities, the largest potion COM
monty used containing only one ten
trllIlonth OF grain. From that
point the trituration continues down
TO point where figures would be
useless In attempting to describe il.
Ihe operation was the elimination
OF years of painstaking trouble in
the course of which many obstacles
which appeared almost insurmount-
abie were finally overcome. So great
is the dread of the reptiles among
the natives around the head waters
OF the Amazon, where it is to be
round, and among sailors who know
It's dangerous character that Il
was with the utmost difficulty that a
specimen was captured and brought
to New York.
Those who participated in the op-
Grafton were DR.. Raymond l.. Dit
mars, curator of reptiles at the park;
Dr. 81. Clair Smith, one of the lead
ing homeopaths of the country:
Headkeeper Charles b. Snyder, of
the reptile house, and Dr. Runyon.
Those who had gathered around
the table expecting to see the deadIy
viper brought into the room secure
ly Gagged were thrown almost into
panic when Headkeeper Snyder ap-
peared at the head of the passage
way bearing the writhing monster
at arms length on a piece of slender
wire. They were reassured a mo-
ment later, however, when the snake
had been placed upon the table, his
head cleverly. pinioned and DR.. Dit
mars seized him in a firm grip.
Holding the reptile close to his
body, with the head pointing out
ward, DR.. Ditmars gave the signal.
Keeper Snyder thrust into the snakes
mouth the receptacle which he had
prepared to receive the venom. 1t
was glass of unusual strength and
the wide aperture at the top had
been covered with a piece of medi-
Gated gauZe and securely fixed in
place. When the receptacle was at
a point less than half an inch from
the viper's nose there was a lunge
forward so quick that the eye scarce
ly could follow 1t, the mouth was
thrown open, the lips whick covered
the cruel fangs were curled back,
and with q snap the fangs tore
through the cloth, the Jaws closed
and the poison, enough to
Kill thousand men, spurted harm
lessly into the glass.
The snake will be kept in captivi-
ty, and if he survives it is likely that
other operations will be performed
from time to time, and the future
supply of the serum made secure;
possibly for centuries.