Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-19

a rock unless you are sure that II Is
one or the poisonous species. OF which
there are only three In America II
you Kill water snake, you are de-
*troyins very harmless creature. and
If You kill garter snake. you are
G"priving the world OF very useful
servant.
Government scientists have recent
~ devoted ~ good deal Of attention to
this matter OF fixing the blame among
the snakes. Most persons will kill the
harmless and uscfu, species. while the
most venomous and deadly OF the lot,
the RATHER. has been given credit for
various valuable qualities which he
does not possess
The regard In which the rattle
snake is held by man is one or the
most curious and incxplicable things
in tho rotations between man and the
lower animals Certain southwestern
tribes Of Indians Worship the rattle
snake. dancing with II alive In their
mouths and allowing Il to bite them.
They are also roputcd TO keep these
snakes in their houses OF worship ana
to feed them on human flesh. Whe;h
er or not this is true. il is certain
that the rattlcsnakc inspircs these
savarcs with awe. White men watch
the Hopi snake dance with amuse-
ment. And yet, at many corner
drug store you can spectacle
which is very nearly its equal in bar
barrie quality and motivatcd by much
the same feeling ~ awe. In the store
window IL live rattlcsrakc. 4
crowd draws, fascinated by the loath
some beauty OF the creature and the
knowledge OF its deadly power, the
very qualities that inspire the savage.
Rntlesnakc OH MS Pnuncca.
Meantime, a long-haired individual
has appeared with "a bottle OF rattle
snake oil, which he guarantees to cure
deafness to relieve corns by an
application on the outside OF the shoe.
Some one comes for a trial and re-
ceivcs a drop Of the magical unguent
on his sore toe. Invariably he pro-
claims himself cured. and there s a
rush for the medicine. This particular
scene was witnessed on a busy corner
In Washington, ID. c.. a few months
ago.
Now as a matter OF fact, rattle
snake oil has no more curative quality
than cottonsecd oil, and not az much
~ olive oil. 1t is the personality OF
tho rattlcsnakc--hs sinuous. horrible"
beauty, the mystery OF his blte-;hat
sells the nostrum. Otherwise any
other oil would do as we'll.
OF course. rattlcsnake oil never had
any scientific standing as remedy:
but the venom of the reptile had. and
to some extent has yet. Not many
years ago the claim was made by rep
rtable investigators that subcutane-
Gus injections of crotalin, or rattle
snake venom, made an effective treat
ment for epilepsy, lumbago, rheuma-
tIsm and even tuberculosis The idea
gained considerable credence; but
probably the first thorough test OF the
matter was that recently made in the
Philadelphia Hospital for Epilcptics at
Oakbourne just outside Of Philadel-
phia. The treatment was continued
for number of months, but no cures
were effected. Two OF the sick pa
tients seemed entirely unaffected by
the treatment, two grew worse, one
developed such acute symptoms that
the treatment was discontinued, and
one died. The doctors In charge are
not agreed as to whether the snake
poison was a cause Of the death
CrotaIin Has No Value.
Despite this experiment. there are
many persons, including few ply
sicians, who believe that crotalin has
valuable medicinal qualities and that
when a sufficient standar dized supply
OF the poison has been obtained. there
will he different results. In recent
report of the Public Health Service.
written by DIR. John Anderson. how
ever. the value Of the poison is en-
phatically denied, and the danger Of
Stripped OF all his high qualities as
a healer, the rattlesnake still has one
claim to usefulness. That is his hide.
The markings. especially of the dia-
mond- back variety, are really striking.
and the skin possesses great durability.
Purses, belts, watch fobs and handbags
have been made from it, and these ar
ticlcs arc not at all uncommon in the
West, where some persons make a bust
ness Of hunting snakes and preparing
the skins 1t Is commendable un-
dertaking from every viewpoint.
Snake hunters, it might be added,
are like poets, In that they have to be
born to the business Some persons
have little or no Unborn aversion to
reptiles, while others are almost over
come at the sight OF them. In the
Southwest there are sheep-herders wGo
have trick Of picking up rattle
snake by the tail. and gracefully snap
ping his head off, as one would crack
whip. Yet there are brave men who
would rather charge a battery of rapid
fire guns than kill snake in that
particular way.
This Man Loves Snakes.
There is an old man living near
Fredericksburg, Va, who possesses
this gift Of affection for reptiles, and
who makes living by catching them
alive for exhibition purposes. He sells
great many to c!rcuses. zoos and side
shows of all sorts. He also extracts
their venom, and those that he cannot
dispose OF In any other way, are killed
for their skins and oil. His method OF
extracting the venom is said to be
original He stretches n thin cloth over
the mouth Of a small jar. grabs the