354 



ORDERS OF REPTILES— SERPENTS 



sharp at the point. A slender tube traverses 

 the axis of the fang, from the root almost to the. 

 point, for the passage of the venom. Around 

 each fang is a flexible sheath of tough, white skin, 

 evidently for its protection. 



The fang of a diamond-backed rattlesnake — 

 the largest species — is about an inch in length. 

 The small bone in which it is set at the root 

 (maxillary) is so hinged by tough ligaments 

 attaching to the roof of the mouth that it has 

 some freedom of motion. When the jaws are 

 closed, the fangs lie against the roof of the 

 mouth. When the serpent strikes an enemy 

 with the intention of poisoning it, the mouth 

 is opened widely, the pterygoid bone pushes 

 hard against the maxillary, and the sheathed 

 fangs are thrown forward until they look like 

 great hooks of white skin. 



A serpent cannot be rendered permanently 

 harmless by the removal of its fangs, because the 

 fangs are constantly renewed. Each operating 

 fang is backed up by a series of smaller ones, of 

 different sizes, growing and awaiting their turn 

 to do duty, and drop away. An adult fang is 

 shed every six or eight weeks. The old tooth 

 does not drop out until the new one is close 

 beside it, duly connected with the poison gland, 

 and ready for duty. Then the old fang either 

 drops out, or is left sticking in the next animal 

 bitten. 



Even if fangs were pulled out, the poison sac 

 would remain, and a scratch from the jaw teeth, 

 duly poisoned, would endanger the life of the 

 patient. 



In striking to do mischief, the function of the 

 lower jaw is to get under the part to be bitten, 

 and press it up firmly against the attack of the 

 fangs. The mechanism by which the fangs are 

 thrown forward consists of a series of levers, 

 and the special student will be greatly interested 

 in the published drawings which illustrate its 

 details. It is admirably shown in "Amphibia 

 and Reptilia," by Dr. H. Gadow. 



Effect of the Poison. — It is obviously im- 

 possible in a work of this nature to enter into 

 this subject at length. In lieu of this, we will 

 offer a very brief digest of what we believe to be 

 absolute facts. These have been gleaned with 

 care from several sources, but I make special 

 acknowledgment to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger's 

 presentation of the subject in his admirable 



monograph on "The Poisonous Snakes of North 

 America." 1 



There are two ways for the introduction of 

 snake-poison into the system of a warm-blooded 

 animal: (1) through the blood, by direct connec- 

 tion with a vein or artery, and (2) through the 

 skin and muscles, one or both. 



Although some of the great investigators differ 

 somewhat on this point, it now seems reasonably 

 certain that the manner in which snake-poison 

 acts is by paralyzing the circulation of the blood, 

 the breathing organs, the nerves, and even the 

 digestive organs. The effect on the blood is a 

 decrease in the strength and rapidity of the flow. 

 In the nerves (after the first period of excite- 

 ment), drowsiness ensues, which in fatal cases 

 often lasts until death. The breathing is grad- 

 ually diminished in strength and volume. The 

 brain is usually the last organ to succumb. Dr. 

 Stejneger's conclusion is that "the death which 

 follows the introduction of the venom into the 

 circulation must be attributed to gastro-mtestinal 

 apoplexy, and the stupefying action exercised 

 directly upon the nervous system." 



Venom introduced directly into the blood acts 

 with great rapidity. When introduced hypoder- 

 mically, through the skin and muscles, its action 

 is much slower, and if the case is treated with 

 great vigor from the very start, the patient has 

 a fair chance to recover. Except from cobra 

 bites, very many do recover. 



The most dangerous snake bites are those in- 

 flicted upon the neck or face. The least dan- 

 gerous are those upon the feet, the legs below the 

 knees, and the hands and forearms. 



Treatment. — Th^re is small need to apolo- 

 gize for recording here the fundamental principles 

 that should be carried out in case of accident. 

 In the first place, any one who expects to cam- 

 paign in a country infested with poisonous snakes 

 should expend $5.00 in the purchase of a small 

 pocket-case containing a hypodermic syringe, a 

 bottle of chromic acid 1 to 100, and another 

 of liquid strychnine. Only the boldest and most 

 enterprising travellers ever get beyond the sphere 

 of influence of whiskey and brandy. 



During the last ten years, medical men have 

 been conducting investigations and making ex- 

 periments to produce a universal antidote for 



1 Government Publication. For sale by the 

 Bureau of Public Documents, Washington, D. C. 



