The Viperine Snakes 



keep )'our senses, for }our life may depend upon your calm 

 reasoning. 



Records of Snake Bites. — Considering the number of species 

 of poisonous serpents inhabiting the United States, some of 

 which are abundant, some very deadly, the amount of casualties 

 resulting from the bites of these reptiles is very small. Of these 

 the majority result from the reckless handling of captive specimens. 



The writer can recall two records of speedy death following 

 the bite of the large Southern Rattlesnake (the Diamond-back). 

 One involved a young Englishman, who was quail-hunting in 

 Florida. About to fire into a bevy of quail, he was alarmed by 

 the ominous whir of a snake. Involuntarily stepping to the side, 

 he was unfortunately too slow of movement. The guide was 

 horrified to observe the dart of an olive head from the brush, 

 and hear a cry of pain from his companion. The leg was tightly 

 ligatured and within half an hour the man was being treated by 

 a skilled surgeon from the North. Every precaution of draining 

 and washing the injury — situated in the calf of the leg — was 

 taken. Powerful stimulants were administered by the mouth 

 and finally hypodermically, but in vain. Death, attended with 

 great suffering, came within an hour after the serpent's stroke. 

 Incidentally it may be added that the envenomed head that 

 caused the tragedy was blown into atoms by both charges from 

 the guide's shotgun. The other catastrophe was very similar 

 and occurred in the northern part of the state. 



Several records are at hand relating to the bites of the cop- 

 perhead snake. In each instance there has been recovery, 

 following intelligent medical attention. 



Concerning the bites of captive poisonous snakes there are 

 many records. The exploits of "Rattlesnake Jack"* are in- 

 teresting and tragic. Hearing of the recklessness of this man the 

 writer made his acquaintance, in New York, while the performer 

 was filling an engagement at a dime museum. He was surprised 

 at the audacity the man displayed in handling a collection of 

 miscellaneous species of rattlesnakes, and asked to be permitted 

 to inspect the creatures, thinking that their fangs had been re- 

 moved, thus eliminating a certain proportion of the danger. He 

 found the snakes to be in full possession of their fangs, a fact 

 well demonstrated by the writer arranging to secure venom from 



* John Sonwell. 



409 



