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my houest conviction that the question is in- 
correctly worded; careful observations of the 
life habits of our common snakes, confirms my 
opinion that the ophidians possess no mesmeric 
power, which, when exercised, places the vic- 
tim in easy reach of the expectant snake; 
rather the inherent dread of snakes universally 
entertained by man and the higher orders of 
brutes, so affects some individuals, possessing 
a highly nervous temperament as to make them 
powerless to flee or fight when suddenly en- 
countering a snake in their path. 
The great majority of the human family, 
learned and illiterate, accept with little or abso- 
lutely no hesitation or doubt a prevalent belief 
that snakes are endowed with certain mesmeric 
powers, through the exercise of which they 
stupify or paralyze their prey and thus are 
enabled to make an easy capture, The most 
absurd and unreasonable instances of ‘snake 
charming’ are readily accepted and cherished, 
and frequently grossly exaggerated as evidences 
of the terrifying potency of the snake’s power 
over man and beast, Careful investigation of 
these ‘authentic cases’ results in the fact that 
the victim was paralyzed with fear, rather than 
made powerless by the exercise of any mes- 
meric influence exerted by the snake. Now, in 
nearly every human mind a strong sentiment 
of repugnance, and in some cases an actual 
horror of snakes in general finds lodgment. 
Strong men, as well as delicate, sensitive women 
