Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-08-31
A DEADLY REPTILE
The Fer-de-Iance the Most Ven
omous OF All Serpents.
IT'S STING A DEATH WARRANT

e,,os Of This Terror OF the Island
:, u.r,;nioue-The Cat and the Mon
.o Its Most Fornidobls Eneniss-
,,,.rv one Is perfectly well sware
-, there exists lnrge number or
,,ous serpents-we have many OF
,srm right here In the United States;
ro,tler. for example-but probably
= o,ber spot In the known world has
.,.n , death dealing reptile as has the
rr.nch island OF Martinique. nestiing
O. The llmpld blue waters OF the carib-
-, son. IL Is the fer-de-lance. sci
sn,,scally known as Trigoncephalus
,oncclatus. that can beyond the shad-
aw n doubt lay claim to being the
.,,s, deadly serpent of the earth. Its
.,,n, means almost certain death.
There are eight distinct varieties
~. most common being n dark gray
aud black speckled. which coioring
anohles II TO conceal itself easily
sr,onr roots and stumps of trees. An
,,,ber variety Is a clear. bright yellow.
.nd when hidden 10 the freshly cut
,one II can hardly be distinguished
from the stalks. IL may also be dark
allow or coal black with a yellow
belly.
II is not n large snake. rnrely ex-
reedinc Eve feet IN length and In cir
conference approximately the size OF
chlld's arm. To repeat. the sting
means almost certain death. and
should not the service OF physician.
~ ..nanseur." as the natives call him.
no obtained within a very short time
tbe venom does its deadly work the
nesh grows cold. softens. becomes
oulpy. 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.
II 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-but even II life is saved the dan
ger is not entirely removed. for I'm
many cases necrosis OF the tissues fol-
lows. The flesh corrupts and falls from
The bones. and the body molders 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
II the sting happens 10 be In either.
Even this has 20 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 II Is the result OF hav-
ing the machete, or cane knife. up
piled after an experience with n fer-de-
lance.
The fer-de-lance is n tighter-and no
mistake about it-aggressive and pug
uacious. and domestic animals. with
the cat as the one exception. stand n
very poor show IN q battle. Pussy. in
about nine cases out OF ten. Will come
out Of the scrap with colors dying be-
cause OF the fact that II is apparently
quite as quick In movement and at tho
same time uses what may be termed
sing generalship.
There is but one animal other than
upon the fer-de-lance. IL Is the mon
goose dchneumon). imported from In
da number OF years ago for the
sole purpose OF getting rid OF the
snakes.
or the weasel family and looking
very much like Il. this little animal is
absolutely fearless so far as snakes
are concerned and VIII just as readily
tackle one dve feet In length as one
foot long. From the mongoose the
fer-de-lance viii fee. but II cornered
~iA put up a great fight, using ev-
cry trick at its commando useless
sort OF contest, however, for within
short time It will be stretched out
lifeless.
battle between these two natural
enemies is well worth witnessing. II
is never a limited" fight. but to a
unsh always. and probably the snakes
oy this time have come 10 understand
that when they enter such combat
Is with the odds greatly against
them.
The mongoose Is quite as clever n
ring general as the cat and uses that
gut TO advantage. Strategy more than
strength is its asset.
Nhen they meet. and If the snake
sees no avenue OF escape. 1t prepares
TOT battle, as does the mongoose. but
IN moro leisurely manner. II takes
ABOUT one minute for them TO get fully
prepared. There is no shaking hands.
80 70 speak. as by prizefighters.
Ihe mongoose circles about the rep
uie' always at safe distance and
urawing fire." inviting 1t by moving
closer and closer to dart out its head
"iu then quickly jumping out of
ua'uls way. IL torments In every
poSSioie manner. causing the snake to
eaange position time and time again,
urihS II by forcing strike again and
aSnn without ever reaching the OBJ
yeouVe point. At last. seeing its op-
pOuent at some particular disadvan-
@se the mongoose springs forward
xuicA as bolt of lightning. catches
urhiy with the teeth behind the
"Angular head-a shake. possibly two.
" more-and In less time than ii takes
" Veh II the fer-de-lance Is dead. its
'er'eorae severed. New York Times
ue gods have attached almost as
~"y misfortuDes to liberty as to ser.
Il Ne.N.