Aua 30, 1885.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



63 



obliged to resort to an artilicial one. The animal is provided 

 with special apjieudages by means of wMcli iie keeps a firm 

 hold upon his borrowed dwelling, and it is a vcay difficult 

 matter to get him loose from it. I have known a crab to 

 suffer himself to bo pulled to pieces before he would give 

 up his shell. When a crab has grown too large for the shell 

 he is occupying lie leaves it and seeks another. It is said 

 that if they are not able to flud another empty shell they 

 attack other crabs, and if they succeed in overcoming them, 

 take possession of their shells. They seem to be rather quar- 

 relsome fellows, at all events, for 1 have seen two of them 

 lighting over a piece of mussel, while if they had eaten it 

 quietly there would have been plenty for both, 



Any one who has had the opportunity and has failed to 

 look for sea-anemones attached to the sides of rocks just 

 below low tide mark has thiown away the privilege of seeing 

 one of the most beautiful ot all forms of life in its natural 

 habit'it. With their delicately tinted cylindrical bodies sur- 

 mounted by a crown of soft feathery tentacles gently expand- 

 ing and coutractmg in the water, they show themselves 

 worthy of the name of sea-flowers, by which they are com- 

 monly known. I could readily mention many other forms 

 of life, some of which are quite as interesting as those already 

 named. Such are stai'-fishes with their five radiating arms 

 and curious sucker-tipped tube-feet ; sea urchins looking so 

 secure in their bristling coat of spines ; ophiuroideans with 

 their long snake-like arms; and lobsters, of several of which 

 I have caught glimpses lately, and which looked quite as 

 handsome in tbcii- native domain, clad in their brilliant- 

 colored coat of mail, as they taste delicious when converted 

 into a salad. Those whose summer rambles take them to 

 the sea-shore will find a i^leasant way of spending odd hours 

 in examining these forms of life for themselves. S. 

 AsraisQUAM, Mass., Aug. C. 



THE PTOMAINES. 



THERE have lately occurred two or three cases of death 

 through blood poisoning from bites that must present 

 features of peculiar interest to those scientists who are prose- 

 cuting experiments with human saliva, which is now known 

 to possess more or less of toxic qualities. In one case a 

 little girl of four years and a half was bitten on the arm by 

 another little girl of five years of age. The wound was 

 very slight— a mere graze— of which the mother at first took 

 no particular notice; but next morning the arm being much 

 .swollen and inflamed, she took the child to the "nearest 

 ho.^pital. 'J'he house surgeon there attributed the inflarnnia- 

 liou to the state of the stomach, and merely ordered a simple 

 jjoultice and soms cool lag medicine, not suspecting any 

 danger. Probalily the ptomaines and poisonous saliva had 

 mot formed a part of that doctor's cuniculum. The child 

 grew rapidly worse an 1 died the third day after the bite. 

 A post mortem examination showed that death had resulted 

 from acute blood poisoning, caused, as was then perceived, 

 ;by this by no means deep bite. 



This remarkable case at once recalled one or two similar 

 iDCCurrences related to me only a short time previously by 

 ray friends. Dr. Yarrow, U. S. A., and Dr. R. W. Bhufoldt, 

 'Ot the Army Medical Museum, Washington, D. C, in con- 

 versations on the subject of human bites. It besides bears a 

 icertaiu analogy to snake bite, and suggests a few words in 

 ireply to ah olt-repeated inquiry — How is it that while one 

 may die from a very slight snake bite, another person may 

 recover from an apparently serious one'? The amount of 

 •venom injected, the condition of the victim, as also that of 

 ithe serpent supply the reason. While a feeble or an un- 

 Jiealthy person might succumb to the merely superficial bite 

 iOf a small rattlesnake, a stout and vigorous man may pos- 

 sibly overcome the virus of a full-sized one. It is merely a 

 ^question of whether the bitten person's vitality is strong 

 enough to conquer the poison. The little child's blood was 

 in an unhealthy condition, probably also the sahva of the 

 biter was contaminated by unsound gums (she had lost some 

 of her teeth), or by remains of food in lier mouth, or noxious 

 "sweet stuff." Of these details we cannot be sure, while we 

 are very sure that an extremely minute quantity of saliva in 

 contact with the blood was fatal to this little girl, while 

 many children are bitten by their playmates and far more 

 severely, without any serious consequences. Dr. Shufeldt 

 informed me that he had seen some very serious symptoms 

 follow from the bite of an angry man. Many other cases 

 could be cited in which death has ensued from the bite of 

 persons and animals in whom no sign of rabies existed. It 

 was not a mere figure of speech which the Psalmist uttered 

 whenhe said "the poison of asps is under their lips," though 

 we may doubt whether David intended to convey a scientific 

 fact in that statement. Unfortunately, good as well as evil 

 persons carry venom under their tongue; nevertheless, 

 scripture when thus borne out by modern discoveries be- 

 comes invested with new force and interest. 



These poisonous properties, both in saliva and in some other 

 fluids of the human body are known as "ptomaines," a word 

 introduced into the language some twelve years ago, and 

 therefore found, if at all, only in our most recent dictionaries. 

 It is derived from 7rra)/.ia. a carcass, being the product of 

 diseased or putrified animal substances. Prosecuting scien- 

 tific experiments, Dr. Selrai, of Bologna, discovered in a 

 corpse certain alkaloids singularly resembling such vegetable 

 poisons as morphine, aconitine and others. It was subse- 

 quently discovered that these cadaveric alkaloids or pto- 

 maines, as he named them, exist in Uving bodies as well as 

 dead ones, in healthy as well as unhealthy human fluids, 

 though predominating in diseased subjects. ' Simultaneously 

 while Selmi was carrying on his researches at Bologna, Dr. 

 Armand Gautier, of Paris, also discovered that these "alka- 

 loids" are developed in putrefied blood, and in human saJiva, 

 which, under certain conditions, he found to bear a strong- 

 analogy with snake venom. Gautier obtained from healthy 

 human saliva sufficient ptomaine to destroy birds when inoc- 

 ulated witli it; and this saliva had not been contaminated by 

 impurities in the mouth, but was procured direct from the 

 duct of a salivary gland. Dr. Yarrow informed me of a 

 similar circumstance that had come under his observation, 

 viz., the saliva of a healthy man whom he knew, causing the 

 death of a rabbit inoculated with it. I am indebted to Dr. 

 Yarrow for a copy of an extremely interesting paper on 

 "Some Recent Experiments on Serpent Venom," by Dr. 

 Robert Fietcher, M.R.C.S.E,, which was read before the 

 Philosophical Society of Washington, May 19, 1883; and in 

 this paper Dr. Fletcher shows the relationship between the 

 new alkaloids and snake poison, which latter appears to dif- 

 fer from human saliva only in the intensity of its action. 

 "Both serjjent venom and ptomaines respond alike to chem- 

 ical tests, and have the same reducing power/' says Dr. 

 Fletcher. "They are not ferments, heat, long applied, leaves 

 hem both as deadly as before. The toxic effect upon animals 



is the same in both," Worthy of consideration is the curious 

 fact that while snake venom is found to possess strong pep- 

 tic qualities, so that it is Introduced into the pharmacoprcia 

 as a valuable medicine, human saliva i(^ found to possess 

 toxic properties, and each so important as a digestive agent 

 in the stomach, should be so fatal in the blood of another 

 individual. 



The second case which has occurred within a year was the 

 death of a gentleman from the hite of a pet monlcey, 'The 

 animal was not habitually vicious, but on the occasion which 

 terminated so fatally, displayed a restiveness which induced 

 its master to take it by the shoulders— one hand on each 

 shoulder — and shake it. The monkey immediately turned 

 and bit first one hand and then the otlier between the thumb 

 and forefinger, causing the blood to flow. The wound on 

 the right hand soon be'came a serious affair. It was cauter- 

 ized, but in a week or two became gangrenous and was at- 

 tended with faintness and exhaustion. The patient was 

 already much out of health, which accelerated the danger, 

 and in s]iite of skillful medical aid he died within three 

 weeks. At the coroner's inquest it was stated that the bite of 

 a monkey would not necessarily produce rabies, but that the 

 deceased's constitution was in such a state that "anything," 

 probably meaning any other bite, might produce the same 

 effect. Similarly an unhealthy person has been known to 

 die from Ihe bite of a harmless — /'. e., a non-venomous— snake. 

 Dr. Shufeldt told me he had once been compelled to carry 

 his hand in a sling for many weeks from a wound caused by 

 the bite of a common cat that had been suddenly disturbed. 

 Instances might be multiplied in evidence of the toxic effect 

 of saliva apart from hydrophobia, and which, prior to the 

 discovery of the ptomaines, have excited the wonder of the 

 ignorant, giving rise to superstitious beliefs. It is in this 

 way that myths have prevailed which in due time science 

 clears away. 



One more point of interest in connection with the pto- 

 maines is that, though a comparatively recent discovery or 

 rather a lately recognized agent of mischief, the actually 

 poisonous character which some human secretions assume 

 irader certain conditions has long been known. Dr. W. B. 

 Carpenter, F.R.8., F.L.S., etc., of London, in more than 

 one of his works has pointed out this, and also the fatal 

 effects of the maternal nutriment on infants when the mother 

 has yielded to violent anger or has been suffering under 

 great mental excitement. "An absolutely poisonous char- 

 acter is almost instantaneously communicated to the milk, 

 which has occasioned the death of the offspring." Anger or 

 undue excitement acts on other animal secretions, as, for 

 instance, the saliva, as we have seen. Though to moralize 

 does not belong to the present subject, we cannot fail to see 

 the lesson of caution conveyed in the various incidents 

 related; more especiallj^ as regards the importance of main- 

 taining sound health to enable us to combat danger. 



Even more to the point than Dr. Carpenter's elucidations 

 was a remarkable prediction of Dr. Weir Mitchell when 

 describing his experiments with snake venom in 1868. 

 Though not absolutely giving the name of ptomaines he yet 

 anticipated both Selmi and Gautier in comparing the cada- 

 vers with serpent venom. In his published account (1868) 

 he said: "The one form of poison which most resembles 

 venom is that of putrefactive substances, and I am inclined 

 to think that from putrefying material may yet be separated 

 a substance which, concentrated, will prove active toxically 

 and will perhaps enable the observer to repeat the facts I 

 have witnessed here." The substance has since been 

 "separated," and experiments have been "repeated," and by 

 scientists in other counti-ies in the pursuit of their own indi- 

 vidual researches, m-espective, at first, of serpent venom, 

 though this afterward shared their attention, and who were 

 jirobably quite unaware of Dr. Mitchell's conclusions. 



Dr. Fletcher speaks of these various discoveries as of 

 "enormous importance in their relation to medical juris- 

 prudence." That they may lead to the discovery of a 

 thoroughly satisfactory cure— that is an antidote in the true 

 sense of the word, to snake vonom, and a cure for hydro- 

 phobia, two evils that have as yet baffled all skill, is now 

 almost confidently anticipated. At the moment of conclud- 

 ing this paper, in which I have so loosely and lamely en- 

 deavored to simplify an abstruse subject, I read that M. 

 Pasteur, of Paris, after five years' undivided attention and 

 practical experiments, feels confident that he can provide an 

 effectual prophylactic against hydrophobia. A prophylactic 

 against snake bite may come next. 



Catherine C. Hopley. 



London, EuglanclL 



ORNITHOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. 



THE inquiries instituted by the new Department of Econ- 

 omic Ornithology at Washington are set forth in the 

 following circular, copies of which may be obtained of jDr, 

 MeiTiam : 



The fact that birds are instrumental factors in checking 

 the increase of insects injurious to vegetation has long been 

 recognized, but the extent of the services thus rendered has 

 never been positively ascertained. Moreover, great differ- 

 ence of opinion exists, particularly among farmers, as to 

 whether certain well-known species are on the whole bene- 

 ficial or injurious; and many kinds which are really of 

 great paactical value are killed whenever opportunity offers. 

 For example, hawks and owls collectively are almost univer- 

 sally regarded as detrimental, while as a matter of fact sev- 

 eral of them never touch poultry but feed almost exclusively 

 on mice and grasshoppers. 



The wholesale slaughter of small birds has been known to 

 be followed by serious increase of noxious insects. On the 

 other hand, invasions of insects which threatened to devas- 

 tate large tracts of country have been cut nearly short by the 

 timely services of our native birds. 



In view of the above facts, and many others which might 

 be cited, it is clear that a comprehensive systematic investi- 

 gation of the inter-relation of birds and agriculture will prove 

 of enormous value to farmers and horticulturists. Such an 

 investigation has been undertaken by the newly -established 

 branch of Economic Ornithology under the Division of Ento- 

 mology of the Department of Agriculture, and the assistance 

 and co operation of persons interested are earnestly solicited. 



The food of all birds consists either of animal matter or 

 vegetable matter or both, aird its consumption must be ser- 

 viceable or prejudicial to the interests of mankind. There- 

 fore, according to the food they eat, all birds may be classed 

 under one of two headings— beneficial or injurious. Many 

 species are both beneficial or injurious, and it is impossible 

 to assign them to either category until the precentages of 

 iheu- food elements have been positively determined and the 

 sum of the good balanced against the sum of the evil. 



In a very large proportion of our small birds the food 

 yaries considerably with the season, sometime changing from 



vegetahle to animal, or from injurious to beneficial. Fur- 

 thermore, many birds feed their young upon substances 

 which the adults rarely or never eat; and the young on 

 leaving the nest souaetimcs greedily devour things wlilcb arc 

 discarded as thc_y grow older. Hence, iL becomes necessary 

 to ascertain the fo©d of each species at different times of the 

 year and at different ages. Information is desired on all 

 questions relating to this inquiry, and special attention is 

 invited to the following: 



a. Has the common crow been observed to catch young 

 chickens or to steal eg^s? d. Has it been observed to eat 

 corn or other cereals in the field ? If so, how long after 

 planting, and how extensive was the injury done? Has the 

 crow been observed to feed upon iujiuions insects? If so, 

 what kinds of insects were thus destroyed, and to what extent? 

 c. Has the crow blackbird or grackle been observed to 

 carry off the young of the robin or of other small birds, or to 

 destroy their eggs? When breeding near the house, has it 

 been observed to drive oft" small birds (such as robins, blue- 

 birds, etc.) which had previously made their abode on the 

 premises? Has it been observed to eat coru or other cereals 

 in the field? If so, how long after planting, and how exten- 

 sive was the injury done? Has the crow blackbird been ob- 

 served to feed upon injurious insects? If so, what kinds of 

 insects were thus destroyed, and to what extent? d. Has 

 the naturalized exotic, the so-called "English sparrow," 

 been observed to drive off any of our native birds? If 

 S.0, what species were so expelled from their former haunts? 

 Has this sparrow been observed to feed upon cereals or other 

 farm crop? If so, what kinds were injured and to what ex- 

 tent? c. Has the "Eoglish sparrow" been observed to feed 

 upon or wantonly injure grapes or other fruits? If so, to 

 what extent? What measures, if any, have been adopted 

 to remedy the evil? /. Have the robin, cat bird, brown 

 thrasher, Baltimore oriole, or other birds been observed to 

 feed extensively upon fruit? If so, what kind or kinds of 

 frail has been most injured by each species, and how exten- 

 sive have been the depredations committed? g. What birds 

 have been observed to feed upon or otherwise injure buds or 

 foliage, and what jjlants or trees have been so injured? ft. 

 What birds, if any, have been observed to feed upon the 

 canker worm, army worm, tent caterpillar, cut-worm, cot- 

 ton worm, cabbage worm, currant worm. Rocky Mountain 

 locust or other grasshoppers, periodical locust (Cicada), Colo- 

 rado potato beetle, chinch bug, Hessian fly, or other nox- 

 ious insects? i. The bobolink (ricebird of the Southern 

 States) and red-shouldered blackbird congregate in vast 

 flocks daring their migrations and commit extensive depre- 

 dations in certain parts of the South. The Division will be 

 glad to receive detailed accounts of these depredations from 

 persons living in the affected districts, What birds are 

 considered to be injurious to crops and small fruits, and 

 what kinds aie regarded as beaeficial? On what facts are 

 these opinions based? k. Has any kind of bird been ob- 

 served to feed upon the honey bee? If so, what species, and 

 how extensive has been the injury done? 



In the investigation of economic ornithology many im- 

 portant secondary questions present themselves. Among 

 them, the following may be mentioned as bearing directly 

 upon the subject of injury : 1, At what season and for how 

 long a period is the bird present? 3. If a summer resident, 

 how many broods does it rear each season, and how many 

 young constitute an average brood? 3. Does it take up its 

 abode near the habitations of man, or does it inhabit dis- 

 tricts remote from civilization? 4. Does it inhabit marshes, 

 uplands, cultivated fields, or forests? 5. Where does it 

 make its nest? 6. What places does it frequent in search of 

 food? 7. Is it soUtary or gregarious? 8. What effect does 

 the settlement of a region have upon its bird life? 9. What 

 birds, if left to themselves, are likely to become most abund- 

 ant as the country grows older? 10. Has any increase or 

 decrease been observed from year to year in the numbers of 

 any kind of bird in the same locality? If so, can such 

 change be attributed to altered conditions^in the bird's breed- 

 ing grounds? If not, can any cause be assigned? 11. "Has 

 any increase or decrease of one species been observed to 

 affect the numbers of another species? If so, can the fact 

 be explained? 12. Has any species disappeared altogether? 

 If so, can a cause for this disappearance be assigned? 



Persons willing to aid in the collection of birds' stomachs 

 will, on apphcation, be furnished with the necessary blanks 

 and instructions. Until Oct. 1 all communications should 

 he addressed to Sing Sing, N. Y. ; after Oct. 1 to the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



Db. 0. Hakt Mereiam, Ornithological Agent. 



Range of the American Bison.— Late issues of the St. 

 'Pan} Pioneer Pms report: "Reliable cowboys just arrived 

 in Miles City, Mont., report that at the Lower Musselshell 

 round-up they saw a fresh trail of about 100 buffalo on the 

 head of the Big Porcupine last week, and had seen twelve 

 head a few days before. They killed one out of the twelve. 

 The number of wild animals on the North Yellowstone 

 ranges have proved not only a source of annoyance to herd 

 owners, but also of great damage to these newly stocked 

 ranges. Round-up parties, in scouring those districts this 

 spring, complain of the great number of calves killed and 

 crippled by wolves and other wild animals. On Custer 

 Creek calves were found that suffered from torn and bitten 

 backs, which the boys attributed to the attacks of wUdcats. 

 Had the calves been hamstrung the work would have been 

 charged to wolves instead of wildcats. The loss from the 

 above source is probably greater than most people would 

 imagine." 'The Maginnis boys met on their last trip probably 

 the last remnant of the mighty herds of bison that once 

 roamed over these plains. " About 200 wanderers were 

 encountered in Flatwillow Creek bottoms, and for a time 

 the round-up hved on succulent, juicy buffalo humps instead 

 of choice Montana beef." 



Ajitidote to Sooupion's Sting.— Already an antidote 

 has been discovered to the sting of scorpions, wlrich although 

 rarely fatal, are exti'emely painful, and the poison is closeiy 

 aUied to that of the venomous snakes. Mr. A. M, Markham, 

 of the Indian Civil Service, has written to one of the Indian 

 papers calling attention to the fact that the root of Achyraii- 

 thes aspera, known popularly as chirchirra, affords almost 

 instantaneous relief from the pain caused by the sting of a 

 scorpion. The plant is very common everywhere in India, 

 and is one of those whose clmgiug burrs artrsucli a nuisance 

 on one's legs when out shooiiug. The root, macerated in 

 water, is applied to the part stung, and a small quantity is 

 drunk in water. If this be done quickly, there is absolutely 

 no pain half an hour or so aftei- the sting, instead of the 

 twelve to twenty-four hours of intense suffering which fol- 

 low an untreated &img.— London Standard, 



