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ITEMS OF SNAKE KNOWLEDGE. 517 



and its embalmed remains have been found. Thus did the 

 Egyptians show their gratitude for services rendered. 



In ancient times when Greece was a great power, the priests 

 pretended to cure diseases by allowing serpents to crawl over the 

 patient, by waving them to and fro, and by holding them against 

 the diseased part, meanwhile muttering some formula. Hippo- 

 crates, who was born about 460 B.C., and who is commonly styled 

 " the father of medicine," denounced these priests and their 

 methods. 



The venom of snakes kept in captivity, and which refuse to 

 eat, is smaller in quantity, but much more poisonous than those 

 recently captured. 



Never attempt to feed artificially a snake when it is showing 

 signs of wanting to moult (cast its skin). 



In certain districts of South Africa the cattle plague, known 

 as East Coast Fever, has swept off nearly all the cattle. The 

 result of this is, the grass has grown thick and rank, and the 

 herbage has developed unchecked. Snakes, in consequence of 

 the increased protection of luxuriant vegetation, have increased 

 considerably in numbers. 



