The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-09-07
A DEADLY Reptile
The Fer-de-lance the Most Ven-
ornous Of All Serpents.
ITS STING A DEATH WARRANT

Little Chance For q Victim Of the
Fangs Of This Terror Of the Island
of Martinique-Ths Cat and the Mon.
goose It's Most Formidable Enemies.
Every one is perfectly we'll aware
that there exists a large number of
venon,ous serpents-we have many Of
them right here in the United States;
the RATHER, for example-but probably
no other spot in the known world has
such a death dealing reptile as has the
French island of Martinique, nesting
in the limpid blue waters of the Carib-
bean sea. 1t is the fer-de-lance, SCI
e%ntiically known as Trigoncephalus
%lancclatus. that can beyond the shad-
ow Of a doubt lay claim to being the
most deadly serpent Of the earth. Its
sting means almost certain death.
There are eight distinct varieties.
the most common being a dark gray
and black speckled, which coloring
enables it to conceal itself easily
among roots and stumps of trees. An
other variety is a clear, bright yellow,
and when hidden in the freshly cut
cane it can hardly be distinguished
from the stalks. 1t may also be a dark
yellow or coal black with a yellow
belly.
1t is not a large snake, rarely ex-
ceeding five feet in length and in cir
conference approximately the size Of
a child's arm. To repeat, the sting
means almost certain death. and
should not the service of a physician.
or ''panseur,'' as the natives call him,
be obtained within a very short time
the venom does it's deadly work-the
flesh grows cold, softens, becomes
PUPPY. changes in color, quickly be-
gins to spot, and a great chilliness
creeps through the blood. This lasts
only a few minutes-possibly half an
h%our-then death.
If the victim is fortunate enough to
get Il physician upon the scene post
haste and no artery or vein has been
pierced there is h%ope-just a faint
%hope-but even if life is saved the dan
ger is not entirely removed, for in
many cases necrosis of the tissues fol-
lows. The flesh corrupts and falls from
the bones, and the body molders as
does a tree.
There is. however, a heroic method
of treatment often brought into use
by the Martiniquans. 1t is the i'm
mediate amputation of the leg or arm
if the sting happens to be in either.
Even this has to be done at once and
before the venom circulates through
the system. There are to be seen
today upon the island many natives
with limbs missing. and in the ma
jority Of cases it is the result of hav-
ing the machete. or cane knife. ap-
piled after an experience with a fer-de-
lance.
The fer-de-lance is a fi%ghter-and no
| mistake about it-aggressive and pug
nacious, and domestic animals. with
| the cat as the one exception, stand a
very poor show in a battle. Pussy, in
about nine cases out of ten. will come
out of the scrap with colors flying be-
cause of the fact that it is apparently
quite as quick in movement and at the
same time uses what may be termed
ring generalship.
There is but n animal other than
the cat that successfully wages war
upon the fer-de-lance. 1t is the mon
goose Gchneumon), imported from In
dia ii number of years ago for the
sole purpose of getting rid of the
snakes.
OF the weasel family and looking
very much like it, this little animal Is
absolutely fearless so far as snakes
are concerned and will just as readily
tackle one five feet in length as one
a foot long. From the mongoose the
fer-de-lance will flee, but if cornered
will put up a great fight. using e
cry trick at its commando useless
sort Of contest, however, for within
a short time it will be stretched out
l~ifeless.
\ battle between these two natural
enemies is we'll worth witnessing. 1t
is never a "limited" fight. but to a
finish always, and probably the snakes
by this time have come to understand
that when they enter such a combat
it is with the odds greatly against
them.
The mongoOse is quite as clever a
ring general as the cat and uses that
gift to advantage. Strategy more thar
strength is it's asset.
When they meet. and If the snake
sees no avenu Of escape, it prepares
for battle. as does the mongoose, but
in a more leisurely manner. 1t takes
about one minute for them to get fully
prepared. There is no shaking hands
so to speak, as by prizefghters.
The mongoose circles about the rep
tile, always at a safe distance ant
drawing fire." inviting it by moving
t