Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-30
he Bites of Poisonous
Insects and Reptiles

thirty-six hours, but on opening tho jar
found the creature as livery as ever: we
eventually had to chop its head OF.
You will see ii stated that the coral
snake of Flerida rivals the East Indian
cobra in the deadly nature of its venom.
True II is, the coral, unlike most Ameri-
can snakes, belongs to the elaps group, as
does the cobra and other Asiatic Varie-
ties. Ii is. however, of small size Il
friend or mine possessed SUFFICIENT con-
ndence, however, in his ability to with
stand the effects from the bite OF this
snake that he deliberately allowed him.
sell TO be bitten by one He experienced
slight fever for about day. and then
II was all over 1t is Very difficult to
induce the coral snake to strike at all a.
II usually feeds upon flies and other
small insects
There exists. | have found. great pop
ular misconceptions respecting the dan
ger from poisonous snakes of this coua-
try The most rigid and carefully con-
Quoted INVESTIGATION has failed to show
solitary instance where a full-grown
person has been killed by the bite OF an
North American snake
mathematics Yes of course this
remark includes the bites of rattlesnakes
The FLORIDA rattlesnake is the largest
and most poisonous of its kind but
When l was In Florida. although several
instances of persons being bitten by
large rattlesnakes came under my imme-
date observation. [ never encountered Il
fatal case. | knew an army officer who
was bitten and il took two years for the
poison to work out of his system. There
is no douot about the rattlesnake being
poisonous. and | certainly would not like
TO be bitten by one, although | would
not anticipate d fatal result.
AS for copperheads, which. by the
way. are still found in considerable mum
DerS III the vicinity of this city. rattle
snakes, which once abounded herea bouts
being fortunately, extinct. could never
get 4 coppeIhead to assume a striking
attitude. although in my excursions in
the neighOorhood of Washington in
search OF insect specimens | have some
times attempted to do so. The copper
head lies fiat upon the ground and wris-
giles away al the sight of human beinS
as fast as il can.
"Of course. i'm considering this poison
question. much depends upon the con
dition of the blood of the person bitten
Some persons are, unquestionahly. very
prone to poisonS of this nature. and cases
have been reported of fatal results fol-
lowing the sting OF honey bee. fy, or
the bite of human being. The poisoned
sumac. popularity known as poisoned
oak or ivy. is an enigma, i'm this respect
OF the vegetable world.
Prof. Barrow, formerly chief ornithoIo-
sist OF the Smithsonian Institution. was
so liable to poisoning by this species OF
plant that he could not anproach the
vicinity OF Sumac without being affected.
once upon a log which lie burned in tho
open fireplace OF ms residence there hap
pened to be portion of a vine of
called poisoned ivy, and from the fumes
of this not only he. but his entire family.
were badly poisoned. and were unable Ia
stir from the house for a considerable"
period | saw the professor when in this
condition, and he certainly presented
rather an alarming appearance. with his
head swollen to apparently twice its nat
ural size. and his face blood-red and COW
cred with eruptions-
This liability 10 infection from the
poisoned Sumac was a serious hindranre
to Prof. Barrow in his scientific work for
having to examine TIE stomachs of birds
which had eaten the seeds of this plant.
he became poisoned and exhibited the
symntoms | have described. Now, l have
without the slightest Inconvenience, and
this would be the case with the majority
of persons.
There is a pronounced tendency all
over the world TO eXaggerate the POISON
Gus nature of certain plants and reptiles.
In Cuba and in Key West the residents
believe that IL is certain death to sleep
beneath the manzanita tree. In the lat
ter locality. during land boom some
years ago. great number of trees were
cut down all over the island but the
manZanitas were left standing there APP
parently being one hardy enough TO
attempt their destruction. This famous
tree which forms in Meyerbeer's opera
of L Africaine' the method OF suicide em-
ployed by the queen, is a sumac OF the
same nature as our poisoned oak and
ivy. The we'll known legend of the dead
ly upas tree of Java is probably due to
the presence there Of some variety of the
poisoned sumac."