SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE. 31 



imprisoned, it could be placed on the table and studied 

 to great advantage, while it was still able to bite with 

 sufficient vigor. At various times I have employed all 

 the methods of procuring venom, which I have enu- 

 merated at the commencement of this note. I have finally 

 laid aside all but the plan of stupefying the snake by 

 chloroform. This is accomplished by seizing the snake 

 about the middle with the looped staff, and placing it 

 on the table. An assistant then controls the head and 

 neck, by confining the latter with a notched stick, while 

 with the other hand he slips over the head a glass 

 vessel about two inches wide, and containing at the 

 closed end a sponge soaked in chloroform, The snake 

 breathes for a time with only a few inches of lung, which 

 lie in front of the stick, but as it becomes more insensible, 

 the pressure of the stick is removed, and the strap of 

 the staff loosened. About twenty minutes are required 

 to complete the process. If it is then found that the 

 lower jaw hangs relaxed when opened, the neck is seized 

 firmly, the fangs caught on a saucer edge, and the glands 

 stripped from behind, forwards, by pressure with the 

 thumb and forefinger. The venom usually escapes 

 alongside of the fang, from under the mucous cloak. To 

 secure all of the available venom, it is best to wash the 

 fang and the vagina-deutis with the aid of a little 

 water and a pipette ; hut one objection can be urged 

 against this method. One snake in every four died 

 within from two to five days, and this after apparent 

 recovery from the effects of the chloroform. It is not 

 impossible that too severe a compression of the venom 



