SECRETION AND COLLECTION OF VENOM IN SNAKES 153 
out and placed in a saucer. The end of the duct is cut between 
the gland and the ligature, and with a pair of fenestrated or 
polypus forceps the whole of the glandular mass is gently squeezed 
from behind forwards, the liquid which flows out being received in 
a large watch-glass. 
If pressed for time, a more simple method of operating is to 
hold the head of the snake in the left hand, with the mouth open 
and the lower jaw directed downwards. <A watch-glass, capsule, 
or receptacle of some sort, such as a cup or plate, is then introduced 
by an assistant between the jaws, and, with the index finger and 
thumb of the right hand, the whole of the region occupied by the 
elands on each side of the upper jaw is forcibly compressed from 
behind forwards ; the poison flows out by the fangs. 
The extraction of the venom from living snakes is effected in 
the same manner. The animal being firmly held by the neck, 
as close as possible to the head, so that it cannot turn and bite; 
it can be made to eject the greater portion of the liquid con- 
tained in its two glands by compressing the latter with force from 
behind forwards, as one would squeeze out the juice from a quarter 
of an orange (fig. 85). 
It is necessary to take care that the reptile cannot coil itself 
round furniture or other objects in the vicinity of the operator, for 
if this should happen there would be the greatest difficulty in 
making it let go, especially if dealing with a strong animal such 
as a Cobra, Rattle-Snake, or Fer-de-lance. 
Snakes of the last-mentioned kind are especially difficult to 
manage. In order to avoid the risk of being bitten, it is always 
wise to begin by pinning down the head of the animal in a corner 
of its cage by means of a stick, and to seize it with a pair of long 
fenestrated tongs shaped like forceps. ‘The operator then easily 
draws the reptile towards him and grasps it firmly by the neck with 
his left hand, always as close to the head as possible, at the same 
time raising the body quickly in order to prevent it from taking 
