Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-09-10
A DEADLY REPTILE
The Fer-de-Iance the Most Ven
omous of All Serpents.
ITS STING A DEATH WARRANT

Fanas of This Terror OF the Island
of Martinique--The Cat and the Mon |
aoose Its Most Formidable Enemies.
Every one is perfectly we'll aware
that there exists large number or
venomous 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 Carlo
bean sea. 1t Is the fer-de- lance, sci
entiHcally known as Trigoncephalus
lanceIatus, that can beyond the shad-
ow of 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 dark gray
and black speckled. which coloring
enables II to conceal Itself easily
among roots and stumps Of trees. An
other variety is clear. bright yellow.
and when hidden In the freshly cut
cane it can hardly be distinguished
from the stalks. II may also be dark
yellow or coal black with yellow
belly.
1t is not a large snake, rarely ~ex-
ceeding i've feet IN length and in cir
conference approximately the size OF
child's arm. To repeat. the sting
means almost certain death. and
should not the service Of 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
pulpy, changes In color, quickly be-
gins to spot, and great chilliness
creeps through the blood. This lasts
only a few minutes-possibly half an
hour-then death.
IL 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 u 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 moders as
does tree.
There is. however, a heroic method
| of treatment often brought into use
| by the Martiniquans. Ii 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
! iorlty of cases 1t is the result of hav-
| ing the machete. or cane knife. APP
piled after an experience with fer-de-
lance.
The fer-de-lance Is Hghter-and no
mistake about it-aggressive and pug
! nacious. and domestic animals. with
the cat as the one exception. stand
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 1t Is apparently
quite as quick in movement and at the
same time uses what may be termed
ring generalship.
There is but one animal other than
the cat that successfully wages war
upon the fer-de-lance. 1t Is the mon
goose dchneumon), imported from In
dia number of years ago for the
sole purpose of getting rid OF the
snakes.
or 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 eve feet in length as one
a foot long. From the mongoose the
| fer-de-lance will fee, but II cornered
will put up great fight, using ev-
cry trick at its commando useless
sort of contest. however. for within
short time 1t will be stretched out
lifeless.
| A battle between these two natural
enemies is well 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 combat
| IL 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 than
strength is its asset.
When they meet. and II the snake
sees no avenue of escape. 1t prepares
| Tor battle. as does the mOngOose, uul
In a more leisurely manner. II takes
about one minute for them to get fully
prepared. There is no shaking hands.
NO to speak, as by prizefghters.
The mongoose circles about the rep
tile, always at safe distance and
drawing fire." inviting 1t by moving
closer and closer to dart out its head
and then quickly jumping out of
harms way. II torments In every
possible manner, causing the snake to
change position time and time again.
firing It by forcing a strike again and
again without ever reaching the OBJ
jective point At last. seeing it's OPP
ponent at some particular disadvan-
tage. the mongoose springs forward
quick as 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 II the fer-de-iance is dead. Its
vertebrae severed. New York Times.
| ----------------
The gods have attached almost as
| ,nanv tnisforfunea TO liberty aa to SER