THE MOCASSIN SNAKE. 339 



The symptoms are a swelling- of the body, the tongue 

 becomes inflamed, the mouth is burning, an inex- 

 tinguishable thirst is felt; the edges of the wound first 

 become gangrened ; fearful pains are felt in every part 

 of the body, and continue till death ends the agony of 

 the sufferer. 



Those who have been bitten and recover are gene- 

 rally reminded of their lucky escape by periodical aches 

 and swellings, or weakness in the part injured, or by a 

 derangement of the action of the heart. 



But, luckily for all American hunters and travellers, 

 cases of rattlesnake bites are extremely rare, being very 

 seldom reported in even the most sensational news- 

 papers of the whole American press. The animal when 

 unprepared for action, i. e. when not coiled up, is very 

 slow in its movements, so that man can easily escape 

 from its presence. 



Another serpent found in America, and nearly as 

 poisonous as the rattlesnake, is the Mocassin Snake. 

 These are numerous in the swampy grounds of Caro- 

 lina, Greorgia, and other Southern States. In many 

 of its habits it resembles the rattlesnake, though it does 

 not grow to such a size, nor does it possess the warning 

 rattle. Their bite is supposed by the negroes to be 

 incurable. The flesh about the wound mortifies and 

 falls away, the mortification extending gradually over 

 the body. The only method said to be effectual is tying 

 a liofature both above and below the wound, and reso- 



Z 2 



