195 



to limbs stiffened with rheumatism, even though but a piece of the 

 skin of the eel or Rattle Snake be applied thereto. 



The oil of the Kattle Snake finds ready sale among the less 

 settled districts of this State as a sovereign remedy for deafness 

 and various ills of niankiud. It is sold at a very high price and may 

 even have a local value of four dollars per pound. However, it 

 is decidedly a "quack" remedy notwithstanding the faith given it 

 by mountaineers and woodmen who when they can not produce it 

 for their own use order it at local drug stores, but in educated 

 communities it finds no sale as it is not used. Reputable physicians 

 never prescribe it auy more than they use the skin of the Rattle 

 Snake or eel for rheumatism. There may be some virtue in the 

 penetrating and softening oil for deafness, especially in some cases 

 which are caused by a dryness of the interior of the ear or the 

 hardening of the secretions, but other kinds of oil, such as sweet 

 oil, would serve the same purpose fully as effectually. The use of 

 Rattle Snake oil for deafness again may come from the old theory 

 of like producing like, as the Rattle Snake is supposed to have a 

 keenly developed sense of hearing, the virtues of which are trans- 

 mitted in the oil. If such doctrines were true we should eat the 

 flesh of ducks if we would swim, the flesh of rabbits if we would 

 run, and of birds if we would tiy! 



There have been most remarkable stories published concerning 

 the dens of Rattle Snakes and some other species, and while a 

 great many persons have doubted these, we must acknowledge that 

 investigations give facts proving they are true. Rattle Snakes 

 and Copperheads do often live in local spots, such as rocky sides or 

 peaks of mountains, in very great numbers where they continue to 

 congregate and mutiply. At times they will be found. in such dens 

 by hundreds, but do not appear to leave them for any great dis- 

 tance, as they generally have holes under the rocks into which 

 they retire at night and for winter hibernation. 



Dr. J. T. Rothrock, fornn^r State Forestry Commissioner, has 

 just reported to us that Mr. Christian Wagaman, of Fayetteville, 

 Franklin county. Pa., on August 1. IDOf), found a den of Ratlle 

 Snakes w-ithin five miles of Mont Alto, Franklin county. Pa., where 

 he killed one hundred and forty individuals in one day. and the per 

 son to whom he related the occurrence went there two days after- 

 ward and killed forty, and within a few days Mr. W. returned and 

 killed seventy more. In the northwestern part of Centre county 

 is a similar den, which at this writing is undisturbed. Another 

 den is also reported to us as being situated in ITnntingdon county, 

 on the southern peak of the second or third mountain south of 

 Spring Grove Mills (Centre county). We have records of other 



