374 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



transfer the tail of the snake to the free fingers of the right 

 hand. Then, with two fingers of the left hand, gently but 

 firmly, press each side of the head behind the eyes, worldng 

 your finger-tips forward. In this way you will succeed in press- 

 ing out most of the venom remaining in the glands. Put the 

 snake away, and repeat the process in a day or two. Remove 

 the rubber from the watch-glass and allow the venom to dry on 

 the glass by placing it in a current of air, or in some warm, dry 

 place. Use the same glass repeatedly until sufficient venom has 

 been collected to make it worth while to transfer it to a bottle 

 with a good tight cork. Before putting the venom into the 

 bottle, be sure that it is perfectly dry, else it will decompose and 

 lose its poisonous properties. It may be very effectually dried 

 in a desiccator over calcium chloride. It dries rapidly at i6° to 

 20° C. Store it in a dark place as white light reduces the poisonous 

 properties of venom. Just previous to transferring the dry venom 

 to a bottle for storage, it would be advisable to dry (desiccate) it 

 over calcium chloride. However, in South Africa I have seldom 

 had occasion to use calcium chloride. The air dries the venom 

 rapidly. Then, if the stopper of the bottle is a good one, 

 the venom will keep dry indefinitely. With Puff Adders 

 and most other Vipers, a claret or wine-glass is better than a 

 watch-glass, owing to the long fangs rendering it more or less 

 difficult to operate with so shallow a receptacle as a watch-glass 

 Moreover, it is much safer. 



Another method, which was employed in India by Dr. W. 

 Hanna, M.A., M.B., is explained as follows : — Having shaken 

 or pulled the snake, be it Cobra or Viper, out of the box 

 to the ground, he allows it to make off, and following, he grasps 

 its tail with his left hand and elevates it, so that the snake is 

 unable to turn upon him — it simply hisses loudly. 



He allows it to steady its head on the ground, and while so 

 doing, he gently but firmly places a strong slender stick across its 

 neck, pinning its head down. He now lowers his left hand 

 and places the tail under his naked left foot, and with the 

 left hand grasps the neck firmly, close to the head, the stick 

 keeping the head steady until he has accomphshed his object. 

 By taking the tail in his right hand he has now complete control 

 of the snake. His first object is to take the poison from the 

 snake. After washing the mouth (if mucus or dirt be present) 



