The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-29
GIVES UP ONE THIRD
TEASPOONFUL SERUM
Invaluable in Treatment Of
Insanity and Other Ma
Iignant Diseases

New York. April l9.-For the first
time in eighty years and the second
time in the history OF the science OF
medicine an operation for The extrac-
tion of venom from the deadly lance.
head viper. said to be the most
poisonous OF all known reptiles, was
performed at the Bronx Geological
park yesterday. The operation which
was directed by E. w Runyon of this
city through whose efforts the snake
was captured and brought to New
York, was @ complete success, and
as a result science once more has a
plentiful supply of the serum which
has been found almost invaluable In
the treatment of extreme cases of in
sanity and also of many of the mali6-
nant diseases
The extremely powerful nature of
the lance-head'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 completed
and the precious fluid obtained had
been carefully weighed and found to
be less than one-third of an ordinary
teaspoonful in quantity, be announced
tnat the supply was ample 10 mcer
the demands OF the world for at least
half a century
Little Goes Long Way.
He explained at the same time that
this would provide for the most wide
spread use of the serum I'm all the
malignant diseases, such as typhoid
and scarlet fever and diphtheria. SO
powerful is the action that Il Is pre-
scribed only in the most minute guam
titles the largest portion commonly
used containing only one-ten-trillionth
Of a grain. From that point the tri-
turation continues down to a point
where figures would be useless in at
tempting to describe it.
Yesterdays operation was the cul-
mination of years OF painstaking
trouble. in the course of which many
obstacles that appeared almost insm-
lmountable We're finally overcome. So
great Is the dread of the reptile
among the natives around the head
waters of the Amazon, where Il is to
be found, and among sailors who
know of its dangerous character, that
| IL was only with the utmost difficulty
THAT a specimen was captured and
! brought back TO New York,
Those who participated in the oper-
lation were Dr. Raymond L. Ditmars,
curator OF reptiles at the park; DR..
st. Clair Smith. one of the leading
lhomeopaths OF the country; Head
Keeper Charles f. Snyder of the rep
tile house, and Or. Runyon.
Those who had gathered around the
table expecting to see the deadly
viper brought into the room securely
Gagged were thrown almost irto panic
when Head Keeper Snyder appeared
at the head OF the passageway bearine
the wlithing monster at arms length
on a piece of slender wire.
Reptile Plnioned on Tah.e.
They were reassured moment
llater, however when the snake was
placed upon the table his head
lcleyerly pinioned and Dr Ditmar.
seized him ia firm grip. Holdinl
1.-THE reptile close TO his body, Will
the head pointing outward DR. Dit
mars gave the signal and Keeper
Snyder thrust into the snakes moutl
the receptacle which had been pre-
lpared TO receive the venom. II wal
"a glass of unusual strength, and The
wide aperture al The top had beer
lowered with a piece OF medlcatet
gauze and securely fixed in place
when the receptacle was al a poin
less than half an inch from the viper
nose there was a lunge forward 81
luick that the eye scarcely could fol
How n, the mouth was thrown open
1.-The lips which covered the cruel fang
were curled back and with a snal
1.-THE fangs lore through the cloth, th'
Jaws closed sharply and the poison
lenough 20 KIN a dozen men, spurte'
lharmiessly into the glass.
The snake viii be kept IN captiyity
and If he survives IL Is likely tha
other operations win be performed
from time to time. and the future SUI
lply Of the serum made secure possibl
lfor centuries Il Is hardly likely thp
the viper viii live long, however Ihi
specimen has not eaten since be wa
lcaptured in the wilds OF Brazil, NOR
THAN a month ago.