SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE. 29 



securely. This strap was then carried across tbe end of 

 the bar, and through a flat staple upon the side opposite 

 to that on which the strap was fastened ; a stout cord 

 attached to the strap above the staple, was held in the 

 operator's hand. To use this simple instrument, the 

 strap was drawn down, so as to form a loop, which was 

 easily slipped over the head of a snake, and then tight- 

 ened by drawing on the cord. Where it was desirable 

 merely to secure the venom, the loop was slipped over 

 the head and drawn closely around the neck. 



Thus prepared, the snake was placed on the table and 

 retained by an assistant, while the operator obtained the 

 venom. When it was desirable to have an animal bitten 

 without placing it in the cage, the loop was carried to the 

 middle of the snake's body, and it was thus allowed 

 movement enough to enable it to draw back and strike. 

 It is unnecessary to add that during these manipulations, 

 the utmost caution is necessary to avoid accident. 



As it is sometimes essential to detain the snake on 

 the table for some time without being forced to employ 

 a person to guard it, I devised a little apparatus which, 

 although imperfect, answered my ends well enough. A 

 box about four inches square and thirty-six inches long 

 was divided lengthwise, and arranged with hinges so as 

 to close readily. The two sections were deeply grooved, so 

 that where the sides of the box met, the grooves formed a 

 tube large enough to receive the body of a serpent five 

 feet in length. The large length of the box was fitted 

 with a sliding door which could be secured by a wooden 

 wedge driven in behind it. The lower edge of the door 



