28 ]' II Y S I O L O G Y A N D T X I C O L G Y 



struck at once with the right fang, but missing the cup, poured a large amount of 

 venom into its own mouth. The left fang struck an instant after, and threw into 



allowing the snake to bite at any object, and thus exhaust its venom. Where the snakes are not easily 

 replaced, this plan is plainly not economical. 



Others have allowed the snake to bite upon soft substances which imbibed the venom readily, and 

 from which it could be removed by water (Bonaparte). The methods which, after long practice, I have 

 found most availaljle, I will detail liere, after describing the various means which I have found useful in 

 securing the suakes for experiment, or in removing them from box to box. 



In moving snakes, it is customary to employ long-handled tongs, or forceps, wliich are apt to pinch 

 and otherwise injure them. I have been in the habit of using for this purpose, a bar of wood four feet 

 long, aud cut off at the end, so as to present a slightly roughened surface, one and a half inches square. 

 On one side of the end, a piece of soft and pliant leather strap was nailed securely. This strap was 

 then carried across the end of the bar, and through a flat staple upon the side opposite to that on which 

 the strap was fastened. A stout cord, attached to the strap above the staple, was held in the operator's 

 hand. To use this simple instrument, the strap was drawn down, so as to form a loop, which was easily 

 slipped over the head of a snake, and there tightened by drawing on the cord. Where it was desirable 

 merely to secure the venom, the loop was slipj)ed over the head aud drawn closely around the neck. 



Thus prepared, the snake was placed ou the table and retained by an assistant, while the operator 

 obtained the venom. When it was desirable to have an animal bitten without placing it in the cage, the 

 loop was carried to the middle of the snake's body, aud it was thus allowed movement enough to enable 

 it to draw back and strike. It is unnecessary to add that during these manipulations, the utmost caution 

 is necessary to avoid accident. 



As it is sometimes essential to detain the snake on the table for some time, without being forced to 

 employ a person to guard it, I devised a little apparatus, which, although imperfect, answered my ends 

 well enough. A box, about four inches square, and thirty-six inches long, was divided lengthwise, and 

 arranged with hinges so as to close readily. The two sections were deeply grooved, so that where the 

 sides of the box met, the grooves formed a tube large enough to receive the body of a serpent five feet in 

 length. The large end of the box was fitted with a sliding door which could be secured by a wooden 

 wedge driven in behind it. The lower edge of the door was made concave, and a piece of leather was 

 tacked across the concavity, designed to press on the snake's neck, and secure without injuring it. 



To employ this arrangement, the box was closed and the door raised, a cord having been previously 

 run through the central tube. This cord bore on its extremity a loop which was thrown over the tail of 

 the snake, and carried up between three and four inches. To effect this manoeuvre, I was usually obliged 

 to hold the snake down with a long stick notched at the end. The serpent being thus noosed, the loop 

 was tightened, and an assistant tilted the box over the cage, aud rapidly drew the snake backwards into 

 the tube, while a second person standing in front, guided the snake with a long rod. 



As soon as the tail appeared at the small end of the box, it was secured by the assistant, and the 

 looped string which held it was wound around a nail. At this instant, the head sometimes retreated into 

 the bos. After waiting a moment, it usually reappeared again, and was then seized with a pair of long 

 forceps, and held while the door was pushed down on the neck, and made fast with the wedge. When 

 the snake was small, it sometimes contrived to turn around in the box before the tail emerged, and thus 

 reverse its desired position. This occurrence twice exposed the operator to great danger. It was finally 

 provided against by the aid of a large cork, which was strung upon the cord, and was used to close the 

 small end of the tube, when the snake was of a size to make it possible for it to turn in the tube. 

 When the snake was thus properly imprisoned, it could be placed on the table and studied to great 

 advantage, while it was still able to bite with sufficient vigor. 



At various times I have employed all the methods of procuring venom, which I have enumerated 

 at the commencement of this note. I have finally laid aside all but the plan of stui)efying the snake by 

 chloroform. This is accomplished by seizing the snake about the middle with the looped staff, and 

 placing it on the table. An assistant then controls the head and neck, by confining the latter with a 

 notched stick, while with the other hand he slips over the head a glass vessel about two inches wide, and 

 containing at the closed end a sponge soaked in chloroform. The snake breathes for a time with only 



