Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-08-29
HOME FOR SNAKES
Venom Institute Of San Paulo,
Brazil, Very Unique.
Poisonous Reptiles After They Are
Rendered Harmless Are Allowed to
Roam at viii in a Wonder
full Garden.

New York.-one hears daily OF char
table individuals with plenty of
time and money inaugurating homes
Tor various unfortunate types of hu-
manity, but The most unique establish
ment of its kind is certainly the Ven
ON institution of San Paulo, in Brazil,
where a permanent and comfortable
home is provided 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 situa-
ton.
Large bands Of men, wearing thick
boots. leggings and gloves for protec-
tion against 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 will.
by this means they are able to
grasp the snake by the tail without
any danger to themselves.
AS soon as a snake is caught in this
manner it is unceremoniously thrust
into basket, where, together with a
writhing coiling mass of its brethren,
Il is conveyed to the home.
a large conservatory containing
long rows of glass covered boxes, sim
liar to the glass cases used in green
houses for growing tomatoes. is used
as sorting place for The large guam
titles of reptiles which are brought
into the house every day.
Each case is labeled with the par
,ticular species of snake it contains. so
that when the days bag is brought
in, 1t is a comparatively simple mat
ter for the expert naturalist to grir
each with the above described instru
'ment, and, recognizing its species, pu
1t in the proper receptacle.
The next stage in this queer place
is what is called the operating table
Here, under the personal supervision
of fully qualified doctor. CARRIED ex
Rctly as the surgeons in the operating
room of hospital, with the lonl
white overall, fine rubber gloves ant
$50 on, the snake is robbed of its poi
son--termed serum" rendere,
harmless.
One man grips the snake firmly b
the tail; which is no easy task, for
WIN wriggle ana twist ana turn I'M
manner that would tax severely III
strongest wrist; whilst the docto
forces the jaws open with a surgiea
instrument until he gets hold of tn
bag containing the poisonous serum
A small glass dish is held direct
beneath the bag, and the doctor prI
ceeds to drain it OF its contents. Fac
snake yields something like 30 cent
grammes of serum. which, in appeal
ance. greatly resembles ordinary mill
When the operation is over tn
snake is taken away and placed in
large garden from which escape is
matter OF impossibility
OF course. it would be more cruz
10 turn the poor, defenseless snak
adriit into the woods again, for h
would be entirely at the mercy {
his enemies and soon succumb. S
this garden, which contains almo.
everything Mr. Snake would find
his natural elements, trees, shrub
long thick grass, pools and Il streai
where he may disport himself O
warm days is provided by the inst
Iute