Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-15

L IOI CIRCUS anu IIiuStuDi Poi pc''No ''''''
ranges from 50 cents to 81 pound
AMI there are some snakes that bring
much higher prices than 81 pound
NIr Armstrong has many Mexicans
constantly employed in catching rat
tlesnakes and other varieties OF rep
tiles common to south Texas ana
northern Mexico. These Mexicans
were formerly well satisfied If they
received 10 to Is cents pound for I'VE
snakes, but now they have to be PAID
% to 50 cents a pound. They claim
that it costs them more to live, and
that snakes are becoming scarcer.
Mr.. Armstrong; farm consists OF
about ten acres. surrounded by tight
and high board fence to prevent the
snakes from escaping should they
happen to get out of the pens upon
the farm. Each one is about 30 feet
square and the solid board walls reach
to a height Of about II feet Brush,
covered with loose hay, covers the
ground in the pens and AFFORDS
shady shelter Tor the snakes. AS many
as 1000 snakes are at times kept III
each of these. pens. The rattlesnakes
are kept in pens to themselves.
.Tha snakes are utilized for num-
Der Of purposes, Mr. Armstrong sald.
There is always a big demand for
the larger rattlesnakes among the mu-
seums Of the United States and Eu-
rope. ! also sell many of them to So
called snake charmerS in SldeShoWs
and circuses. All the snakes that l
sell or ship are first made harmless.
There may be some people who are
immune to the rattlesnake bite; but
if so | have never seen such per-
son during the many years that !
have been in this business. | never
take any chances with them, and by
exercising the greatest care | nave
never been bitten. Perhaps l ought
not to use that word. for snakes never
bite. They eject the poison through
their fangs in the same manner that
hypodermic injection is given.
Zone of the chief features of my
business is the extraction and sale OF
snake poison. 1t is sold to chemists
and physicians all over the country,
and is used principally. + understand.
for experimental purposes It Is
claimed by some scientists that the
poison is a specific for certain kinds
Of diseases, but on this point | am
not an authority. ! never took any
of the poison myself. 1t is used in
experimenting with the manufacture
Of antitoXins. The poison has no
established prices: it brings whatever
ask for it. 1t is one of the scarce
Injuries of the chemical profession,
and it's possibilities are so great in
the line of experimental work that
those who use it are willing to pay
whatever price l may ask for the
liquid"
M. Armstrong is an expert when 1t
comes to extracting poison from the
live snakes. He is assisted in the
work by Mexican. who has had sew
eral years training in the dangerous
and exciting operation. When an or
der for rattlesnakes is received the
Mexican is sent to one of the pens.
ard by means of long pole, to which
is attached Wire lassG. he CAPTURES
one of the reptiles. the wire loop fitting
INST below the snakes head. The cap
tive keeps its rattles going constantly
while it is being conveyed to the shed.
where the poison extracting process Is
conducted. The snake is placed in an
nperating box which has a sliding lid.
This lid is then pressed tightly against
the body of the snake. Just back of it's
head
The Mexican helper draws the head
| Of the reptile back over the lid of the
7bOX. causing its mouth to open. 1t is
then that the most dangerous part of
the operation is performed by Mr..
Armstrong; The moment tnp snakes
| mouth is opened he thrusts a glass
| between its teeth. The snake instant
" clasps the glass. and. thrusIing out
| its fansS, cmptieS its poison glands of
their contents. This poison goes direct
into the glass and frequently amounts
| in quantity to two tablesroonfuls. The
liquid is bright green in color. AS soon
as the snake has discharged it's poison
the mouth is opened with a pair OF
furceps. and first the sharp teeth that
are ranged in rows along the upper
aud lower Jaws are trimmed. Then
TIE faneS. which are from nc-fourth
to onc-half inch long. are cut out.
Each Of these fangS is sharp az a
needle and has a hole in the end
through which the poison is elected
Each snake has from four to six fangs.
Whom in repOse its fangs fit down
closely to the jaws.
In order to make the snakes per-
manentiy harmless. the poison bag.
which is located Just back of tho
| 1anes. is extracted. While the opera
ton is in progress the snake keeps ur
| q vigorous protest with its rattlcs in