Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-05-07
Snake Venom To Cure Disease.

years and the second time in the his
tory of the science of medicine the
operation Of extracting venom from
the deadly lsnos.hsad viper, said to
be the most poisonous of ali known
reptiles, was performed at the Bronx
Geological Park. The operation.
which was directed, by E. W. Run
yam, of New York, through whose ef-
forts the snake was captured and
brought to New York, was a complete
success and science once more has 3
plentiful supply of serum which has
been found almost invaluable in the
treatment of extreme cases Of insanity
and also Of many malignant diseases.
The extremely powerful nature Of
the lsnce-hesd's venom can be no
better 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 Auid had been care
fully weighed and found to be less
than third of an ordinary teaspoon
fuI, he announced that the supply was
ample to meet the demands Of the
world for at least half century. he
explained at the same time that this
would provide for the most widespread
use of the serum in all malignant dis
eases, such as typhoid and scarlet fe-
yer and diphtheriG.
So powerful is the action of the
poison that it is prescribed only in
the most minute quantities, the lErg.
est potion commonly used containing
not more than one.trillionth of grain.
From that point the trituration con-
tinuss down to where figures would
be useless in attempting to describe it.
The operation was the elimination
Of years of painstaking effort, in the
course of which many obstacles that
appeared almost insurmountable were
finally overcome. So great is the
dread of the reptile among the ma
tiVes around the head waters Of the
Amazon, where it is to be found, and
among sailors who know of its dan
gerous character, that only with the
utmost difficulty was a specimen cap
tured and brought to New York.
Those who participated in the oper-
alton were DR.. Raymond L. Ditmars,
curator of reptiles at the park DR..
st. Clair Smith, one of the leading
homeopathT Of the country Head
Keeper Charles B. Snyder, of the rep.
tile house, and DR.. Runysn. Those
who had gathered around the table eI-
pecting to see the deadly viper brought
into the room securely Gagged were
thrown almost into = panic when
Head Keeper Snyder appeared at the
head of the paIssgeway with the writh'
ing reptile at farms length on a piece
of slender wire. They were resssured
a moment later, however, when the
snake had been placed upon the table,
his head oleverly piniOnsd and DR..
Ditmars seized him in 4 firm grip.
Holding the reptile close to his body
with the head pointed outward, DR..
Ditmars gave the signal and Keeper
Snyder thust into the snakes mouth
the receptacle which had been pre-
pared to receive the venom. 1t was
glass of unusual strength and the wide
aperture at the top had been covered
with a piece Of medicated gauze, Sc
cursly fixed in place.
When the receptacle was at point
less than half an inch from the vi.
per's nose, the reptile made lunge
forward, 30 quick that the eye scarcely
could follow it, the mouth was thrown
open, the lips which covered the cruel
fangs were curlsd back, and with
snap the fangs tore through the cloth.
The jaws closed sharply and the pOis-
on, enough to kill dozen men, sPurt'
ed harmlessly into the glass.
The snake will be kept in csptivi-
ty and if ne survives it is likely that
other operations will be performed
from time to time and the future sup
ply of the serum made secure possibly
for centuries. 1t is hardly likely that
the viper will live long, however.
This specimen has not eaten since it
was captured in the Wilds Of Brazil
more than a month ago, and the eI-
perts at the Geological Park cay that