Evening star., 1939-05-08


developed and DR.. Calvente.
widely distributed from the famous
SNAKE farm"-the Institute of Bu-
tantan, operated by the State of Sac
Paulo, on the outskirts of the city
of Sac Paulo, about go miles across
the coastal mountains from this
coffee port.
Zoo Director William M. Mann
of Washington has given several
lectures on the work of the insti-
tute, but never had an opportunity
to see it until today, when he and
Mrs. Mann were guests of the di-
rector, DR.. James Calvente. Both
scientists are untiring collectors,
and soon were swapping snakes as
well as stories.
DR.. Mann plans to present to the
institute several Gila monsters. the
large, poisonous, orange and black
lizards native to the deserts of our
Southwest-part of geological COL
lection he is taking to Buenos Aires
as a gift to the Zoo there. In return,
DR.. Calvente probably will have
several bags of snakes waiting at
this port when DR.. Mann stops by
some six weeks hence.
Arrange Future Swaps.
Few if any poisonous lizards live
In South America, and DR.. Calvente
considers the Gila monsters valu-
able addition to his farm" In ad-
dition, the two scientists arranged
for the exchange of snakes in the
future-swaps to enable both to
round out their collections.
Even persons who are repelled by
the sight of a squirming serpent
would enjoy the architectural and
floral beauties of the "farm"-its
impressive buildings, collection of
palms and pines, formal gardens,
vivid flowers.
Less obtrusive are the little con-
crete pill boxes" scattered over
sunken grass plots inclosed by low
walls-the home of the snakes, one
Enclosure for the cobra type, whose
bite attacks the nervous system;
another for vipers, poisoners of the
blood stream, and still another for
poisonous varieties-boas, etc.
In the latter inclosure are trees
whose branches, on sunny days, are
laden with huge snakes whose col
grafton blends them with the foliage
The colored skins and patterns of
these climbers made them things of
beauty-to the naturalists, anyhow.
All in Knowing How.
A bored attendant in white coat
leaped into an inclosure with a stick
that had a metal crosspiece at the
bottom. He hooked a squirming
mass of rattlers from pill box and
caught one by pinning it down with
the stick and grasping it just be-
hind the head with his right hand.
The huge, failing body he tucked
under his left arm. incidentally,
he was smoking cigarette)
The attendant ran nimbly along
. wall and leaped into the midst Of
some 20 spectators. Everybody with
the possible exception of the anna
teur photographers, who are afraid
of nothing-I've noticed-except a
poor exposure) drew back. An as
sistant director produced a glass
dish.
The attendant hooked the inch
long, curving fangs of the rattler
over the edge of the dish and
squeezed the snakes head.
A drop, two drops of clear fluid
came from the snakes poison
glands.
"One drop" remarked the assist
ant director, would do for us all
If properly distributed"
Thus is the poison obtained for
developing a serum from the blood
Of infected animals.
The institute handles some $4,000
snakes year. They are sent in by
donors, and transported free from
distant parts of South America.
One phial of serum is given for each
fourth snake. The institute also
sends out educational literature.
How Bites Appear.
For instance, a poisonous snake
usually makes two clean punctures
In the skin, while the poisonous
variety probably would inflict many
punctures, or scratches. A picture
of how the two bites appear on flesh
could save some persons from q
nervous breakdown, when all they