The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-08-06
THOUSANDS KILLED BY SNAKES.
Mortality Among Natives of India
Reaches Great Figure.

In the % years from 1887 TO 1911
the number of human beings killed
by snakes in India was 543,991, or
an average of 21,760 annually. &C
cording to official reports. During
the same time snakes caused the
death of lS7,436 cattle. The NOR
tality among human beings is so ap-
palling that any steps taken to de-
crease the figure must be welcome.
In Central India the poisonous
snakes usually found are comprised
in four varieties, the Cobra de Capel-
Ia, Russell's Viper, KARAT, and the
Small Viper. The King Cobra,
huge reptile, is probably the most
formidable and aggressive snake IN
the world, as it is always ready not
only to attack, but to pursue. 1t at
tains over Is feet in length, and Will
attack a human being unprovoked.
The KARAT is a dark snake, whose
bite is the cause of many deaths. Inc
Russell's Viper is an aggressive snake
striking with lightning-like rapidlty'
and its fangs are larger than those OF
any other Indian viper. TIE Small
Viper is 10 to 20 inches long and IS
q peppery little reptile when irritated
throwing it's body into folds and max
ing a loud purring noise.
The mortality from snake bites
among the poorer inhabitants OF In
dia is due in part to their habits ana
mode of life. Many sleep on the
ground in their houses, the walls
and flooring of which often give COW
er t. snakes. Persons are sometimes
bitten by serpents which crawl over
their bodies in the dark and are per-
haps irritated by some unconscious
movement of the limbs during sleep.
In such cases the reptile is seldom
seen and there is dreadful doubt
as to whether a rat, a mongoose, or
g deadly snake has caused the wound.
During the great heat of the plains
in summer scanty clothing IS worn
and many people go barefooteo'
while those who do wear shoes sell
dom wear hose, thus leaving the an
kle and instep exposed. Many fatal
cases of snake bite occur among ma
tiyes engaged in cutting grass when
the vegetation is dense and capable
of concealing even a panther. The
native squats down on his heels'
grasps a handful of grass and cuts
II off near the roots with a curved
hand scythe, and often touches and
irritates hidden reptiles.
The work of extracting venom
from snakes for the purpose OF max
ing an antidote for the poison IS be-
ing carried on at Parel Laboratory,
Bombay. An interesting account or
the operation recently appeared IN
local paper:
"A couple of Indian assistants
dragged forth a tin box, the lid was
lifted up, and an angry cobra disclos-
cd It expanded its hood and sway
cd is wicked little head from side to
side, Kissing like a steam engine.
One of the Indians with remarka-
BILE dexterity, seized it firmly at the
hack of the neck, at the same time
n,acins his foot on the end Of his
tail to prevent the snake from coll
ing. The cobra, being thus harn-
less, was carried forward. and VINE
glass with a piece of American cloth
covering the top, was placed near us
head close to it's darting tongue and
glittering eyes. At once 1t struck
its two sharp upper fangs pierced
the cloth and the deadly poison drop
ned into the glass. There was per-
haps half teaspoonful i'll the glass;
suflcient to kill half dozen human
beings. The cobra was then forcloly
fed with an egg hip through tuDe
and put back in his box kissing fe-
rociously and then was left for 10
days to mediate on the indignity ne
had suffered. The venom is extract
ed only once in 10 days.
The venom is dried over lime and
sent TO Kasauli, where it is dissolv-
ed in a salt solution. 1t is then put
into a horse, only "a small dose being
given at first. This is gradually in
creased until at the end OF two years
the animal can stand a dose 200
times the original one, since it ac-
uuires immunity from the poison.
The substance which confers this i'm
munity is in the blood, and when the
corpuscles are separated from 1t the
residue is the snake-bite antidote.
Each bite requires an anudote
made from the venom of the same
sort of snake as that which ln1lcteo
the bite. 1t is absolutely effective
covorql lives