Evening star., 1940-04-02
Snake-Bite Cocktail
Uncoi|ed in Patents
Dinner Preview
13 Guests Try 1883
Cure, Without One
Dissenting Voice

Up to a certain hour last night
the odds were all against anybody
being bitten by a snake in the JET
ferson room of the Mayfower Hotel.
But some there in special dinner
party expressed an off-the-record
willingness to engage in catch-as-
catch-can with amy top flight poi
sonous reptile-even the straight
shooting horned viper-providing a
jug of Joe Smiths antidote was still
handy.
Josh, who is known to his close
friends as Joshua T. Smith, esq.,,
patented snake-bite neutralizer in
1888, the ingredients being: One
quart Of alcohol, 2 ounces of gall of
the earth CNabulus fraserD, l ounce
mohawk, also known as rattlesnake
weed CHieracium venosum), one
fourth ounce alum and 80 drops of
iodine.
So far as known Josh was never
very successful in getting people to
sample his concoction, either in his
native Coffee County. Ca, or else
where. And thus his contribution to
society came down through the
years untried and untested, y because,
perhaps, it was unappetizing.
On Banquet Menu.
For some reason, how ever, this an
tidote was selected for the chief
liquid refreshment-the quench-all
for the April 10 banquet the
United States Patent Office will
stage for 1900 guests to commence
rate the 150th anniversary of the
date on which George Washington
signed the first national patent leg
islation.
Such gala occasion demanded a
rehearsal, and nothing, it was de-
clded, could be more fitting than a
preview at which a select gathering
would play the role of human guinea
pigs and share Josh Smiths Sc
cret-later to condemn or laud his
cobra cocktail
Ihus 13 men sat down to dinner
on the United States Patent Sesoui-
centennial Committee last night,
several of them being ringers in
the form of Patent Office officials,
They made faces over their first
sips OF the Smith Singer, but it
harmed them not. In fact thev
grew to like it. At any rate it van
lshed to drop. Just how much of
defense it would offer against a
good, stiff snake bite was not
proved. But the comments were in
teresting.
Testimonial From Allen.
District Commissioner George f
Allen arose, cleared his throat
smiled and offered a toast to JOSH
Smith. Then, in his best oratorica
manner, he said: "Mmmmm-"
E. Willard johnson, prominen,
puslnes consultant, heartily indorsec
the product with, This is great
business"
DR.. Thomas Ridgeley, jr., chair.
man OF the board of the American
Chemical Society, said the ingredi.
ents seemed excellent from chemi.
cal viewpoint, as well as any other
His motion was seconded by Altor
Emery, the society's secretary.
Conway P. Coe, United State.
commissioner of patents, had bae
cold and couldn't be sure of hi.
ground, but he in no way libelec
Josh Smith.
Judge Finis J. Garrett of the Court
OF Customs and Patent Appeals, was
noncommittal, and Representative
Kramer of California stood on his
constitutional rights and refused te
testify.
Worth the Trip"
Watson Davis, director of Science
Service, arrived for the test by plane
He said it was worth the trip.
Others attending, but not dissent.
ing, were Ralph ChampIn, Ethy
Gas. Corp. executive, and four rep.
resentatives of the Commerce De-
partment, Walter White, assistant
to the chairman of the Business Ad-
visory Council; Frederick N. Polan.
gin, director, Current Information
Division; William j. Tate and Jack
Evans OF the same division.
Today the patent Office revealed
the owner of snake farm at st
Petersburg, Fla, has requested 9
bottle of the antidote for his medi.
cine chest. 1t will be dispatched
with speed, and while the patent
office hopes the gentleman will not
be bitten, should such an even,
come to pass-the internal applica-
tions Of Josh Smiths remedy will
be awaited with interest.