Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-08-13
A DEADLY REPTILE
The Fer.de-Ian the Most Ven.
omous OF All Serpents.
ITS STING A DEATH WARRANT

Fanas Of This Terror Of the Island
Of Martinique-Ths Cat and the Mon.
GOOSE Its Most Formidable Enemies.
Every one Is perfectly well aware
that there exists a large number Of
yenomous 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 death dealing reptile as has the
French island Of Martinique. Nesting
In the llmpld blue waters Of the Carib-
bean sea. Il Is the fer-de-lance, sci.
entiHcally known as Trigoncephalus
lancclatus. that can beyond the shad-
Ow OF a doubt lay claim to being the
most deadly serpent Of the earth. Its
sting means almost cekain death.
There are eight distinct varieties.
the most common being a dark gray
and black speckied. which coloring
enables II to conceal itself easily
among roots and stumps Of trees. An.
other variety is a clear. bright yellow.
and when hidden 10 the freshly CUE
cane It can hardly be distinguished
from the stalks. II may also be dark
yellow or coal black with yellow
belly.
II is not large snake, rarely CT
ceeding Eve feet In length and in cir
conference approximately the size Of
a child's arm. To repeat. the sting
means almost certain death. and
should not the service Of a physician,
| or ''panseur." as the natives call him,
be obtained within a very short time
the venom does its deadly work-the
Besb grows cold. softens. becomes
PUPPY. changes In color. quickly be-
gins to spot. and a 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 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 in
many cases necrosis OF the tissues fol-
lows. The 1esh corrupts and falls from
the bones. and the body molders as
does a tree.
There Is. however. heroic method
OF treatment often brought into use
by the Martiniquans. IL is the i'm
mediate 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 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. APP
piled after an experience with fer-de-
lance.
The fer-de-lance Is fghter-and no
mistake about it-aggressive and pug
uacious, and domestic animals. with
| the cat as the one exception, stand
very poor show In 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 the
same time uses what may be termed
ring generalshlp.
There Is but one animal other than
the cat that successfully wages war
upon the fer-de-lance. II Is the mon
goose uchneumonI, imported from In.
dia a number Of years ago for the
sole purpose OF getting rid OF the
| snakes.
or the weasel family and looking
very much like II. this little animal Is
absolutely fearless so far as snakes
are concerned and will just as readily
tackle one i've feet In length as one
foot long From the mongoose the
fer.de.lance viii fee. but II cornered
will put up a great fight. using ev-
cry trick at its commando useless
sort Of contest, however. for within
short time II will be stretched out
lifeiess.
A battle between these two natural
enemies Is well worth witnessing. II
IL never a ''limlted" fight. but to a
finish always. and probably the snakes
by this time have come 10 understand
that when they enter such a combat
II 10 with the odds greatly against
them.
The mongoose Is quite as clever q
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. II prepares
for battle. as does the mongoose. but
In a more leisurely manner. II takes
about one minute for them TO get fully
prepared. There is no shaking hands.
so to speak. as by prizefghters
The mongoose circles about the rep
tile. always AT safe distance and
drawing fire." inviting II by moving
closer and closer to dart out It's head
and then quickly jumping out Of
harms way II torments In every
possible manner. causing the snake TO
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