THE GILA MONSTER. 



(Heloderma suspectum). 



The reptile fauna of the North Amer- on the floor of the mouth, where it mixes 



ican continent includes a curious lizard with the saliva, and is transmitted through 



known as Gila Monster, in science called the bite. 



Heloderma. It represents a family all A Heloderma has no fangs, but a good- 



to itself, with only two species : Heloder- ly number of sharp, pointed teeth, both on 



ma horridum and Heloderma suspectum. the upper and lower jaws. They are 



Francisco Hernandez, a Spanish phy- curved backward and about an eighth of 



sician and naturalist, was the first to know an inch long, or even less than that. The 



of its existence when he found it in Mex- principal characteristic of these teeth is 



ico in the year 1651. In an account of his that they are grooved, facilitating thus the 



explorations he mentions a lizard three flow of the venom into the wound. It 



feet long, with a thick-set body, covered bites with an extremely swift dash, di- 



with wart-like skin, gaudily colored in or- rected sideways, and holds on tenacious- 



ange and black, and generally of such ly to whatever is seized with its powerful 



horrid appearance that Wiegmann, an- jaws. Sumichrast says when the reptile 



other scientist, two hundred years later, bites it throws itself on its back, but none 



called it Heloderma horridum. of the later naturalists makes mention of 



For a long time this name was given in- this peculiarity. 



discriminately to all lizards of this kind, The venom of the Gila Monster injected 



living either south or north of the boun- into the veins and arteries of smaller ani- 



dary line of Mexico and the United States, mals as rats, cavies and rabbits and into 



till Professor Cope discovered a difference the breast of pigeons and chickens, causes 



between them and called the variety found death within twenty seconds to seven min- 



in our southwestern territories and states utes. Brehm relates that a young Helo- 



Heloderma suspectum. derma, and in poor physical condition be- 



Many other naturalists have since taken sides, was induced to bite the leg of a 

 up the study of this interesting reptile, large, well-fed cat, which did not die, but 

 The result of their observations and ex- gave signs of prolonged terrible suffer- 

 periments was that they all agree in ac- ings. It became dull and emaciated and 

 knowledging the Heloderma as the only never regained its former good spirits, 

 poisonous lizard in existence, although Among several cases of Gila Monster 

 their opinions are at variance as to the bites inflicted on human beings can be 

 effect of its venom on the human system, quoted that of Dr. Shufeldt, who, in "The 

 Dr. van Denburgh in his latest researches AmericanNaturalist," gave an interesting 

 has found two glands, one on each side of account of the sensations he experienced, 

 the lower jaw, located between the skin It is sufficient to say that the pain, start- 

 and the bone. Such a venom-producing ing from a wound on the right thumb, 

 gland being taken out of its enveloping went like an electric shock through the 

 membrane proves to be not a single body, whole body and was so severe as to cause 

 but an agglomeration of several small the victim to faint. Immediate treatment 

 ones, differing in size, and each emptying prevented more serious consequences, 

 through a separate duct. These glands The Doctor, nevertheless, was a very sick 

 are not directly communicated to the man for several days and began to re- 

 teeth. When the animal is highly irrita- cover only after a week had elapsed, 

 ted, caused by constant teasing or rough The constituents of the venom are as 

 handling or by being trodden upon, the yet not thoroughly known, but it is said 



poison is emitted by the glands, gathers to be of an alkaline nature, the opposite 

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