The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-08-02
DEATH IN ITS STING
Fearful Effects of the Venom Of
the Dreaded defiance.
The WORST OF ALL SERPENTS


Save Life After Stab by Its Deadly
Fangs-A Battls With Its Enemy and
Master, the Monsoose.
There exist large number Of ven
omous scrpents--we have many of
them in the United States-but prob
ably no other spot in tine known world
las such a death dealing snake as the
island OF Martinique, in the Caribbean
sea. This is the fer-de-lance. scientif-
ically known as Trigonocephalus lance
olatus. and it can, beyond the shadow
of a doubt, lay claim to being the most
deadly serpent of the earth Its bite
means death.
There are eight distinct varieties, the
most common being a dark gray and
black speckled. which coloring enables
it to conceal itself easily among roots
and stumps OF trees. Another variety
is a clear, bright yellow, and when
hidden in the freshly cut cane 1t can
scarcely be distinguished from the
stalks. 1t also may be n dark yellow
| or coal black with yellow belly
This is not a large snake, rarely eX-
ceeding five feet In length and in cir
conference approximately the size of
child's arm. To repeat, the bite
+! means almost certain death and should
| not the service of a physician, or pen
| seur, as the natives call him. be OBJ
| tanned within a very short time the
venom does its deadly work-the flesh
| grows cold. softens, becomes pulpy
changes in color, quickly begins to
spot, and n great chilliness creeps
through the blood This lasts only
few minutes possibly half an hour
then death.
If the victim be fortunate enough to
Get a physician upon the scene post
haste and no artery or vein has been
pierced there is hope-just faint hope.
But even If life be saved the danger is
not entirely removed, for in many
cases necrosis Of the tissues follows
the flesh corrupts and falls from the
bones, and the body molders as does
tree.
There is. however, n heroic method
Of treatment often brought into use by
the MartiniquianS 1t Is the immedi-
ate amputatlon Of the leg or arm If
the lite happens 10 be in either. Even
this has To be done at once and before
the venom circulatcs through the s..s-
tenn. There are to he seen today upon
The island many natives with limbs
laiesing, and in the majority of cases
it is the result OF having the machete.
or cane knife. applied after an expert
once with n fer-de-lance
The fer-de-lance IL fighter, and no
domestic animal. with the exception of
the cat has any chance in battle
with this serpent The cat, however,
III about nine eases out OF ten will
come cut of the fight with flying col
ors because Of the fact that it is APP
parcatly quite as quick in movement
and 1T the same time uses what might
be tcrmed ring generalship.
There is but one animal other than
the cat that successfully wages war
against the fer.de-lance. Ii Is the
mongoose dchneumonl. imported from
India number Of years ago for the
sole purpose Of getting rid OF the
snakes in Martinique
OF the weasel family and looking
very much like those creatures, this
little fellow is absolutely fearless so
far as reptiles are concerned and will
Just as readily attack one five feet in
length as one II foot long.
From the mongoose the fer-de-lance
win Tee, but II cornercd will put UP Il
great fight, using every trick at its
ccmiband. useless sort Of contest
! however for within n short time il
4 | viii be stretched out lifcless.
J 4 battle between these two natural
enemies IL well worth witnessing. II
! 81 never limited fight. hut to finish
always. and probably the snakes 10y
this time have come To understand that
when they enter such combat it Is
with the odds greatly against them.
The mougooSc is quite as clever a
d ring general as the cat and uses that
II si't to advantage. Strategy more than
$ strength Is its asset.
!, When they meet and IL the snake
sces no avenue of escape It prepare.
c for battle as does the mongoose. but
!. Ia 4 more lcisurely manner. 1t takes
/. about one minute for them to get fully
/, p"cparcd There is no triiling. how
q aver.
n The mongoosc circles about the rep
!. | He. always at a safe distance and
drawing fire" inviting it 10y moving
closer aud closer. TO dart out It's head
snd then quickly jumping out Of harm.
II way. 1t torments In every possible
ia manner causing the snake to change
=, position time and time again without
ever reaching the objective point. Al
last. seeing its opponent at some par
ticular disadvantage, the mongoos,
springs forward quick as bolt OF
= lightning. catches the serpent iirml,
" with the teeth behind the triangular
!. head. shake. possibly two--no more
: aud IN less time than It takes to tel
= It the fcr-dc-lauce Is dead. its vcrtc
- mae scyercd.--I.os Angeles Times.
Aviation and War
Before the Battle OF the WILDERNESS,