Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-13
GARDEN IN BRAZIL /
HOME FOR SNAKES
Purpose Is Study Of Venom and
Manufacture of Cura-
tive Serums.
HORSES GROW TO LIKE
EFFECT OF THE POISON
When Supply Il Cut on Their Con.
duct Is Like That Of
dope Fiends."

Brazil contains one OF the most curious
institutions In the world in the shape oe
snake garden, according to an account
in the annual report OF the Smithsonian
institution. The account Is given by
Prof. Pozzi, member OF the French
medical Society, and the medical repre-
sentative on the recent scientific expedi-
ton to Brazil and the Argentine.
Inc snake garden Is not a governments
institution according to Prof. Pozzi, but
Is the creation Of a young Brazilian,
vital Brazil. self-made scientist and OF
the same name and family as the recent
brazilian minister to Washington. The
snake garden is not a show place, but ia
maintained for the study of snake yen-
oms. Its value is recognized by the
Brazilian government and the scientists
OF the world. DIR. Brazil has been work.
Ing Tor years in conjunction with DIR.
Calmette of Paris Between them they
have developed curative serums for
snake bites.
Hundreds Victims of Snakes.
This is Of immense value In all tron,c.,
countries. The estimate is that in RraziI
alone the annual death list from snake
regarded as particularly close, owing to
the immense area of the country and
the thousands Of Indians among whom
definite figures are hard to obtain. II IL
known: however. that In the state of ST
faui. In Brazil. where the snake garden
is located, there were 40 deaths last
year.
This nightmare garden of poisonous
snakes Is a big double Enclosure. IL
Is surrounded by a glazed wall the
nelgnt OF mans shoulder. Inside this
there Is a cleared area where there
would be no hiding place for an escaped
snake. Then comes the snake garden
itseIf, big stretch of tropical jungle
surrounded by a snakeproof fence, and
this Is backed by moat filled with
water. The jungle Is crossed in differ
ent directions by clean swept avenues
and has at intervals open plades. In
the garden snakes are allowed at
liberty. and they can be studied AS TO
life history and habits and live as
though at home in the wilds. renew
Ing their poison supply as in q state
Of nature.
Different Serum for Each.
The two scientists have found that
each breed of venomous snake needs
a different serum to combat it's poison.
Or. Calmette has been working par
serums effective against their venom
have little effect on the native Brazil
ian species Two Of the most deadly
and common of the Brazilian snakes
are q species of RATHER and u relative
Of the deadly fer-de-lance, which 10
small but capable of killing q man or
a horse within twenty-four hours.
There are many other venomous varie-
ties. but those two are particularly
common.
The scientists have learned lot
about the action of the various snake
venoms. Some operate by paralyzing
the heart action. some disintegrate the
blood and some coagulate il, SO that
while the result is the same. there Is
q pleasing variety In the methods by
which death occurs
The protector Of man and the producer
of the serum is the horse. 1t has to be
a young horse. free of any faint OF dis
ease, particularly OF CHAMBERS The
simultaneous injection of very small
amount of snake venom, as little as flve-
one-hundredths of "a miliigram This Is
repeated at intervals of five or six days,
the horse is unframed by a whole gram.
Considering that the venom OF the local
RATHER is powerful enough for one one
thousandths of a milligram to Kill =
pigeon it will be understood that this
Is rather stiff dose.
Horses Like the Poison.
The horse has to be watched care
fully while he is being immunized. IL
favorable symptoms the injection of the
poison is temporarily discontinued.
There are many curious features in con-
nection with this immunization. however.
When the horse is fully immumzed ne
always improves in health and appear
ance, and his appetite improves. In the
course of increasing doses ne seems 10
acquire q relish for the venom, and II IL
is suddenly cut off. he acts much as
human dope fiend' would when his mar
cotic was suddenly stopped. After the
horse has been immunized he Will FUR
after one bleeding. the protective quality
of the serum obtained falls much below
normal until the horse has been rested
and fed UP for several days.
snake is known, the best results can be
had by using its particular serum, but
in the case of the native laborers on the
coffee and sugar plantations, who are
the most frequent victims, the particular
sort of snake is seldom known.
To meet these cases. the doctors have
prepared a sort Of variegated serum with
an involved scientific name. The horse
who is immunized is given the venom
from all the local varieties OF seTpents,
and this serum is an antidote for almost
any sort of bite. The serum Is prepared
in little sealed tubes with sterili1ea
syringe and full directions. These tubes
are kept in stock by the hospitals. and
the big planters and even by the natives
They are furnished to TING
hospitals at lowest possible rate. and
the natives who cannot afford TO pa',
anything In exchange for healthy ven-
omous snake. This is considered by the
natives and DR.. Brazil as a mutually ad-
arrangement, because IL
keeps the snake garden stocked at small
expense and distributes the serum where
1t u most likely to be needed In a hurry.
The serum has curative powers, now
ever. II used within twelve hours after
the bite is inflicted