POISON OF THE RATTLESNAKE. 313 



on the organic structure, were manifest; congestions, exuda- 

 tion of blood throughout the system, together with the uon- 

 coagulation of this fluid, were among the more obvious results. 

 The cavities of the hear! were empty, and fluid blood was 

 observed in the large veins. 



Two of the Rattlesnakes were decapitated, and the heads 

 being placed with the jaws expanded against the abdomen of 

 a living rabbit, they were observed to bite repeatedly with 

 the desperation of expiring nature, forcing their fangs into 

 the flesh their whole Length; bul in these the poison bag ap- 

 peared to have been emptied previously, by repeated efforts 

 of the animal to bite, and on dissection were found nearly 

 void. After decapitation it was curious to observe the mo- 

 tions of the body, which were continued from association; 

 the cut extremity of the trunk, when an injury was inflicted 



, the tail, was thrown towards the offending body, as if with 

 the intention of indicting a wound; this experiment was re- 

 peated frequently. The heart torn from the body continued 

 it- contractions for ten or twelve hours. 



Of all the animals bitten in these experiments, one only 

 died, though all were more or less affected by the poison. 

 Although the wound which was indicted on .Mr Elnsworth 

 Was attended with the usual local effects, there is no proof 

 that the poison would have proved mortal without the use of 

 the remedy, in as much as obvious local edicts were observed 

 in some u\' the animals that finally recovered without the in- 

 terference of ait. Though at the same time it will be re- 

 membered that the |'u>t animal experimented on died from 

 the poison of the same snake which had previously indicted 

 a wound on the man. 



As regards any moral inilei nee being exerted over these 

 animals by the proprietors, which enables them to handle the 

 snakes without the fear of being wounded. — one of the pro- 

 prietors; .Mr .Murray, subsequently confessed that no suidi 

 influence existed; bul that their knowledge of the habits of 

 the Rattlesnake enabled them to handle them with impunity. 

 Thus they are aware that the s| 1; ik c can strike only after 

 \ oi.. 111. J k 



