BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 21 



in the investigations on rattlesnake poison which were still 

 being continued under Dr. Mitchell's direction. 



"The next step in the process was by all means the most 

 difficult. A smooth glass tube from one quarter to one half 

 inch in diameter was thrust down the snake's throat. The 

 assistant who was holding the snake by the noose was obliged 

 to loosen the strap sufficiently to permit the tube to be inserted. 

 Finely chopped beef was then rammed down the glass tube 

 with a small stick until some ounces of beef had been used in 

 this way. This was the only means to keep rattlesnakes, cop- 

 perheads, or the poisonous Mexican lizards in captivity, for they 

 would refuse even live food. Rattlesnakes would live many 

 months without food, but would eventually die of starvation 

 unless this method was resorted to. 



"They were fed every two weeks or later according to cir- 

 cumstances. On one occasion, Mr. Thompson took out of the 

 cage eight or nine rattlesnakes, and let them crawl over the 

 floor of the room where we were. They made no effort to mo- 

 lest us, but the sensation was rather strange, feeling that so 

 many poisonous snakes were close at hand. 



"In order to overcome a natural repugnance I had for 

 snakes, at Thompson's suggestion I used to pick up and handle 

 the king snakes of Carolina. They were really beautiful crea- 

 tures, but their cold slippery surface and constricting propen- 

 sities, for they would twist themselves around my arms, and 

 only by striking them along the back by the percussion of 

 my hand could I loosen them, only intensified my repug- 

 nance." 



Two further isolated "Scientific Notes" which she left in 

 manuscript may be pieced together and afford a glimpse of 

 her activities during that memorable year. She says : 



"A portion of 1886 was spent by me working in the labora- 

 tory over an interesting bark called CMchipate. This plant 

 contained a class of compounds which I had not found before 

 in any plant. On analysis they were proved to be solid hydro- 

 carbons, also from the same plant was isolated a yellow dye 

 substance which gave a good and permanent color on wool 

 and cotton fabrics. 



