The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-05-08
= OF pEADLIEsT OF VIPERs
SOON TO MANKIND

=. men well known in the med.
.ofessiOn and a few other per
.ssembled in the reptile house
~, and - z,o ras,orao,- -
no New York World. Keeper
VIII erasped a lancehead viper. the
seadly of all known reptiles.
u,h,., ,sck of the jaws, and extracted
W .osonous serum from the snakes
.fesf,D, The marvellous operation gave
teveDr sppce q renewed supply of a Sc
TO tri- which Is lh'aiuaole as remedy
be "a, A. treatment of insanity and sew
arms of mental and nervous af-
ans. Ii is the first time the Cd
Jack. ian has ever been performed in
chill country, and the second time i.
bother. ever been performed.
Sat u lsncehead viper is found only in
some 4. near the upper waters of the
nd the son. It was brought to this coun-
ms OF sst week by Mr.. Fox of Boericke
MINER eunyon. manufacturing chemists at
u West FOrty-second street for
sole purpose Of replenishing the
NV Of the serum, which is exceed
~ rare. The technical term for
venom is 'lachesis," derived from
name Of the snake, lachesis tri-
- rscephalus.
keeper Snyder reached into the
-usrment containing the lancehead
will IA long wire, caught up the snake
IL. -
them room.
The Knew the Snakes Fear
Life" Everybody except the attendants
eracv sde a move to disappear, for if the
days axe had wished it could have
We q armed OF the wire; but Snyder al
ed the fears of the spectators when
said that the reptile would balance
two ELF on the wire, as il feared falling
TO the ground.
nday. 'He laid il on the operating table.
Mrs. Immediately it thrust forth its
dyer, ngs Quick as a fash Snyder pin
acial- q his head down on the table with
g Of cane, while he grabbed the reptile
hich hck Of the Jaws with his thumb and
ksfnger. DR.. Dittmars, who is in
xrge Of the reptile department of the
anu b. gripped its body with both hands.
ouN- he snake twisted and turned. .striv-
'liS 3 hard to get free.
"A glass beaker. with a piece OF
!" beesecloth over the top, was placed
Os front of its head, and straightway
any struck at it, shooting out its forked
ngue and clasping the cheeseclOtn
OOl ID one side Of the beaker between
> : laws. Then a stream of the pre-
BUS FELLOW venom flowed from the
pUAs serum glands into the beaber.
un- hyde- kept the snakes mouth press
les- To the cloth. and for some time the
1he rum continued TO flow. as the lance
OF ead kept piercing the cheeseclojE
nau 'lth its fangs.
lex As this was the first time since its
yer aptivity that the reptile had had 4
Dy nance 10 use its fangs an unusual
rs antity Of serum was secured. Prot.
llst unyon said that when il was prop
1ly strengthened there would be a
apply sufficient for practically all
me
The operation over. Snyder again
ED the snake down to the table. and
Eancing il on the wire, put il back
no its compartment AS the serum
one Of the best bacteria mediums.
was necessary to strengthen ii at
ace, so Prof. RunyOn, after determin-
L the weight of the serum, which
found TO be seventeen and three
uarter grains, added two hundred
M arts Of sugar of milk TO one part Of
y, n'-Ua. This, when properly mixed,
sv med a clear. white powder.
he Lancehead is Doomed
Nv The process will have TO be repeat
10 4 countless times until the prepare
is on is strengthened enough. Even
,s hen, if the supply begin 10 give out
p. here would be no danger as IL would
" 3 only necessary 10 strengthen II
ame more. So great is the strength
the serum that only One-millionJh d
e millionth part viii be sold at one
me.
The operation does not harm the
b. bake; but the lancehead has not eat
r. anything since il was captured
ore than a month ago, and ii will die
starvation before long. 1t Is about
ur feet long. brilliantly cOlored, ana
nth a head shaped like an Indian ar
Pw. Its coloring is chiefly glossy
own. There are diamond shaped
iztches OF a yellow cast along It's
Fdes, the diamonds being about three
>ches long.
DR.. St Clair smith, the famous
0neopathic physician of this city;