The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-04-30
POISON IS TAKEN
FROM A VIPER
Operation on Most Poisonous Of All
Snakes.
uAlIiADIc GRIMM riIDuIcurn
BILE SERUM FURNISHED.
Scientists Obtain Supply Of the Most
Deadly Known Poison From Snake
Captured in Wilds of Brazils With
Great Difficulty -One-third of Tea
spoonful of Poison Was Obtained.

spOOn1ul OF HOlsOn was ODthlneus
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-
tion of venom from the deadly lance
head viper, said to be the most poi
sonous of all known reptiles, was per-
formed at the Bronx Geological Park.
The operation, which was directed
by e. 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 plen-
tiful 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 malig-
nant diseases.
The 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 completed
and the precious fluid had been care
fully weighed and found to be less
ful in quantity, Ne 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
the malignant diseases such as ty-
phoid and scarlet fever and diphtheria.
So powerful is the action that it is
prescribed only in the most minute
quantities, the largest potion COM
monty used containing only one ten
trillionth of a grain. From that
point the trituration continues down
to a point where figures would be
useless in attempting to describe IT,
The operation was the elimination
of years of painstaking trouble in
the course of which many obstacles
which appeared almost insurmount-
able were finally overcome. So great
is the dread of the reptiles among
the natives around the head waters
of the Amazon, where 1t is to be
found, and among sailors who know
{ its dangerous character that it
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. St. 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 deadly
viper brought into the room secure
ly Gagged were thrown almost into
panic when Headkeeper Snyder APP
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 snake
mouth the receptacle which he had
prepared to receive the venom. II
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 al
a point less than half an inch from
the vipers nose there was lunge
forward so quick that the eye scarce.
ly could follow it, the mouth was
thrown open, the lips which covered
the cruel fangs were curled back
and with a snap the fangs tore
through the cloth, the jaws closed
sharply and the poison, enough tC
kill a thousand men, spurted harm.
lessly into the glass.
The snake will be kept in captivi
ty, and If he survives 1t Is likely thai
other operations will be performed
from time TO time, and the future
supply of the serum made secure
possibly for centuries.