A hunter's life. 383 



part bitten ; when, the l)h)()d flowing out freely, by rub- 

 bing the wound downward, the poison will run out with 

 it. Another remedy is, to gather the weed called bone- 

 set, or St. Anthony's cross, boil a handful of it in new 

 milk, drink the milk, and bind the weed on the wound. 

 This I have never known to fail in effecting a cure in a 

 few hours when applied promptly. Also, drink from a 

 pint to a quart of whiskey ; which will not intoxicate the 

 patient, but will neutralize the poison. It is likewise com- 

 monly reported that spirits of turpentine, applied plenti- 

 fully to the wound, will draw out the poison and effect a 

 cure. Lastly, take common yellow clay, mix it in a mor- 

 tar, and apply it to the wound, supplying fresh clay as soon 

 as that on the part gets warm, until the poison is drawn 

 out; which will be in twelve hours. The best preventive, 

 however, is to wear strong boots, or coarse Icggins, 

 through which the snakes cannot sink their teeth into the 

 flesh. 



As there are no other dangerous snakes in the hunting- 

 ground which I frequented, and as I have never seen more 

 than two or three copper-heads during my life, I will finish 

 with the snakes after making a few more remarks. 



From the vast numbers of these reptiles which formerly 

 abounded in this region, it is surprising that so few per- 

 sons have been bitten by them ; and I account for it from 

 the fact that they nearly always give warning by rattling 

 before they strike. They are now, however, greatly di- 

 minished in numbers, as they are always destroyed when 

 Been ; and it is, or has been, the practice of those visiting 

 their dens to go there late in April or early in May, before 

 they stir abroad, expressly to kill them. In this way, and 

 by the frequent burning of the forests, after they leave, 

 and before they return to their dens, vast numbers are an- 

 naally destroyed. They are now (1859) comparatively 



