Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-28

San Paulo in Brazil where a perma-
nent and comfortable home is provid-
ed for poisonous snakes.
The institute is in a part of Brazil
noted for its superabundance of ven
omous reptiles, where the loss of life
from snake bites became so serious
that something had to be done by the
government to cope with the situation.
Large bands Of men, wearing thick
boots, leggings, and gloves for protec-
ton against the snake bites, daily hunt
the thickly grassed districts round
about the institute, armed with long
thin tubes, terminating in two semi
circular claws, which are controlled
at the end nearest the body and can
be opened or closed at viii.
BY this means they are able TO grasp
the snake firmly by the tail, without
any danger to themselves. AS soon
as a snake is caught i'll this manner, it
is unceremoniously thrust into
basket, where, together with with
ing, coiling mass of its brethren, it is
conveyed to the home.
A large conservatory containing
long rows of glass covered boxes, SINH
ltT 10 tIiC SletSS tdStS uStb Ill Slttll-
houses for growing tomatoes, is used
as sorting place for the large guam
titles of reptiles which are brought
into the home very day
Each case is labeled with the par
t.cular species of snake il contains, so
that when the days bag is brought
in IT is a comparatively simple matter
for the expert naturalist to grip each
one with the above described instru-
ment, and, recognizing its species, put
It in the proper receptacle.
The next stage in this queer place is
what is called the operating table
Here, under the personal supervision
of a fully qualified doctor CARRIED eX-
aetlF as the surgeon in the operating
room of a hospital. with the LONG
white overall, fine rubber gloves, and
SO on the snake is robbed of its poison
termed "serum"-and rendered
quite harmless.
One man grips the snake firmly by
the tail: which is no easy task, for II
will Nriggle and twist and turn in
manner that would tax severely the
strongest wrist: While the doctor
forces the jaws open with a surgical
instrument until he gets hold of the
bag containing the poisonous serum.
a small glass is held directly be-
near the bag, and the Doctor pro-
ceeds to drain it OF its contents. Each
snake yields something like thirty
contingencies of serum, which in APP
pearance greatly resembles ordinary
milk.
When the operation il over the
snake is taken away and placed in a
large garden, from which escape is a
matter of impossibility.
OF course it would be most cruel to
turn the poor, defenseless snake adrift
into the woods again. for he would be
entirely at the mercy of his enemies,
and soon succumb. So this garden,
which contains almost everything Mr.
Snake would find in his natural eie-
ment, trees, shrubs, long and thick,
pools and streams, where he may dis
port himself ON warm Gays, Is pro-
vided by the institute.
Hundreds Of perfectly harmless rep
tiles of almost every kind may be seen
gliding about in these gardens, and
one can wen imagine the horror a
traveller. with no knowledge of the
circumstances, would experience in
finding himself suddenly surrounded
By hordes Of these reptiles.-London
Tit-Bits.