The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-08-04
FER-DE-LANCE, MOST
DEADLY OF SNAKES
Unless Victim Gets Services Oh
a Doctor at Once His Life
Is Doomed.
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

"ehhh AoS5 ~ olu oOi al hiiAo
season OF the year not only cause the
trees, shrubs n flowers to vie with
one another in beauty and fragrance,
put call into activity other life-that OF
the snake, to which nan and woman
KIND, since the Garden of Eden period,
nave had an Unborn antipathy.
Everyone Is perfectly well aware that
tnere exists a large number OF Ven
omous serpents-we have many of
them right here In the United States
the rattler, 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-
pean sea, and where comparatively a
few years ago Mont Pelee, in an out
burst OF gaseous i'll nature, sent over
10000 souls pell nell into eternity.
IT is the fer-de-lance, scientifically
known as "trigoncepnalus lancelatus,"
that can, beyond the shadow Of a
dou6t, lay claim to being h most
deadly serpent of the earth. It's sting
means almost certain death.
Almost Certain Death.
There are eight distinct varieties, the
most common being a dark gray and
black speckled, which coloring enables
II to conceal itself easily among roots
and stumps of trees. Another variety
Is a clear, bright yellow, and when hid
den In the freshly cut cane can hardly
De distinguished from the stalks. 1t
may also be a lark yellow or coal
black, with a yellow belly.
1t is not a large snake, rarely ex-
ceeding five feet in length, and in cir
cumference approximately the size Of
q child's arm. To repeat, the sting
means almost certain death, and should
not the services of a physician, or
aPanseur,' as the natives call him, be
obtained within a very short time the
venom does its deadly work-the flesh
grows cold, softens, becomes pulpy,
mango in color, quickly begins to
spot, and a great chilliness creeps
through the blood. This lasts only a
lew minutes-possibly half an hour
then death.
If the victim Is fortunate enough to
get a physician upon the scene post
haste and no artery or vein has been
pierced, there is hope-just a faint hope,
out even II life is saved the danger Is
not entirely r~emoved-for In manyc cases
necrosis OF the tissues follows-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
n Martiniquians. 1t Is the immedi-
ate amputation of the leg or arm, II
the sting happens to be in either. Even
this has to be done at once and before
the venom c~irculates through the sys-
TEN. There are to be seen today upon
the island many natives with limbs
missing, and in the majority of cases
II is result OF having the machete,
or cane knife, applied after an expert
ence with a fer-de-lance.
Afraid of Cats.
The fer-de-lance is a fighter-and no
mistake about it-aggressive and pug
nacious, and domestic animals, with the
cat as n one exception, stand a very
poor show In a battle. Pussy, in about
nine cases out Of 10, will come out of
the scrap with colors flying, because
OF the fact that 1t is, apparently, quite
as quick In movement, and at the same
time uses what may be termed ring
g~eneralship.
There Is but one animal other than
the cat that successfully wages war
upon the fer-de-lance. It is the IMAM
gouste' ~Qchneumon), imported from
India a number Of a ago for the
sole purpose Of getting rid OF the
snakes.
OF the weasel family and looking very
much like 1t, this little animal is abso-
lutely fearless so far as snakes are con-
cerned and will Just as readily tackle
one five feet in length as one a foot
long. From the "man-gouste" the fer
defiance will flee, but If cornered will
put up a great fight, using every trick
at It's command; a useless sort Of a con-
test, however, for within a short time
1t will be stretched out l~ifeless.
A battle between these two natural
enemies is well worth witnessing. IT is
never a limited fight, but to a finish
always, and probably the snakes by
lis time have come to understand that
when they enter such a combat it is
with the odds greatly against them.
The "~man-gouste" Is quite as clever
a ring general as the cat, and uses
that gift to advantage. Strategy. more
than strength, Is its asset.
When they meet, and II the snake
sees no avenue Of escape, 1t prepares
for battle as does the "man-gouste."
o In a more leisurely manner 1t
takes about one minute for them to
get fully prepared. There is no shak-
ing hands, SO to speak, as do prize
fighters.
Tho "Man-gouste's" Method.
The "man-gouste' circles about the
reptile, always at a safe distance. and
drawing fire." inviting 1t by moving
closer aand closer, to dart out it's
head and then quickly jumping out Of
harms way. 1t torments in every
possible manner, causing the snake 10
change position time and time again.,
firing 1t by forcing a strike again and
again without ever reaching the OBJ
Jective point. At last, seeing its OBJ
ponent at some particular disadyan-
tage, h "man-gouste" springs for
ward, quick as a bolt Of lightning.
catches 1t firmly with the teeth behind
the triangular head-a shake, possibly
two-no more. and in less time than
1t takes to tell it the fer-de-lance ia
dead, it's vertebrae served.
1t has been stated many times and
contradicted quite as often that the
fer-de-lance is becoming less numer-
Gus on the little island, yet there are
many thousands Of acres of land there,
that have yet to feel the tread Of mans,
foot. and it is therefore reasonable 70,
infer this snake continues to multiply
in large numbers.
Generous.