Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-12-01
OZONE JAG
TO SUBDUE
BIG SNAKE
Geld Air To Be Used
On Reptile In New
York Zoo to Allow
Operation
By Leo T. Heatley.

ozone jag.
The well known Bronx cocktail
xUent out when Volstead acted ana
Inhabitants of that benighteo
borougb have been hard put to u
ever since to concoct a satisfactory
substitute. The ozone jag is the
nearest thing they have been able
to evolve.
But this sort of "pifflication" Is
not what at first blush 1t would
seem. Omyno! In fact, unless you
are peculiarly susceptible to tenn
perature changes you can go right
hack to the path of thirsty rectl-
aude and rigid Observance OF the
constitution, including its elgh-
teenth restriction. Because, to ac-
o,lire the ozone jag you don't
drink anything at all.
Raymond L. Ditmars, curator OF
che Bronx Zoo, after consultation
with eminent physicians, decided
that it was necessary to perform
an operation on King Cobra, the
biggest snake in his collection.
There is a big layer of skin over
the cobra s eyes, binding him, and
repeated efforts to remove 1t have
proved futile. At the last attempt
the reptile wrapped its sinuous
length around the bodies of Dit
mars and three assistants, and the
four Of them fought for more than
an hour to save their lives from
the poisonous snake,
Here's Where Ozone Figures,
Again, when Ditmars suddenly
wushed his hand into the reptiles
cage to grab it below the flattened
head he missed his aim and for
about three seconds it looked like
slow music and flowers for the
curator.
Ditmars will treat the snake to
an ozone jag as soon as the wealth
er gets good and snappy, some-
where about four or five below
zero, he said.
Good stiff, cold weather seems
to have the same effect upon a
snake that hard cider has on the
hired man. Ditmars explained.
1'A couple OF good whiffs and MIR,
Snake loses his equilibrium. He
takes on a silly sort of a grin and
Just naturally wants to go to sleep
When the cobra is pretty well pif
flicated from the ozone he will In
hale, then III make final efforl
to remove the skin bag from hi
oyvs. Eacn time we tried 1t be-
fore the snakes disposition was
such that we decided to give him
the ozone jag"
This ozone jag is something new
in reptile study. 1t was recenti5
discovered that snakes succumb te
the slightest change In tempera-
ture. All the snakes at the zoe
are kept in q house which is steam
heated throughout the year, and Il
the temperature is permitted t.
drop so much as five degrees lowel
than summer heat the snakes show
the effect of the change.
Joy Ride for Big Snake.
"When the weather gets below
zero l am going to take Kint
Cobra for an auto ride through tn,
country" Ditmars said. II will
have him placed In wire Gag
and will strap the cage on thu
hood OF my fliyver, Then I'll lie
the bus hit the high spots in thu
road.
AFTER a drive of about fifteel
miles l figure this snake will b.
stewed to the eyebrows, so t
speak, and while he is good ant
groggy I'll take him out of tn
cage and operate on him.
IF he is susceptible to the coli
weather as are other snakes of hi
family l won't have much diff
Guilty removing that bothersom
film from his eyes. And while In
at 1t l may decide to polish hi
fangs, il he behaves we'll.
After the operation the cobr
will be placed in warm, air-tigh
box and hurried back to his steam
heated flat, where he will recove
quickly from his ozone jag and be
come a healthy snake again.
DR.. Ditmars makes his formul
for the ozone jag public for wha
It Is worth.