328 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 17, 1 



3 P. M. — Rabbit seems perfectly well with the excep- 

 tion of a stiffness of the leg injected. 



Oct. 26—12 M. — Rabbit appears perfectly well with 

 the exception of a slight lameness and some swell- 

 ing of the injected limb. 



Oct. 37 — Rabbit found dead in tbe cage. Post mortem: 

 Heart contracted, lungs, liver and kidneys con- 

 gested, bladder full of mine, intestines full of 

 faeces. In the vicinity of the point of injection was 

 found a large abscess, and the surrounding tissue 

 and whole limb was ecchymosed, and had sloughed 

 deeply. The liver, lungs and mesentery were stud- 

 ded with parasitic cyst worms still living. Decompo- 

 sition was well advanced in the affected leg. 

 In the next experiment it was decided to use a smaller 



dose of tbe glycerine-venom, the subject being a large 



healthy English rabbit. 



Oct. £7—11:45 A. M.— Injected rabbit in left thigh with 

 3 minims of venom solution, to which was added 

 10 minims of water without withdrawing the 

 hypodermic needle: this was followed at once with 

 an injection of 25 minims of 1 per cent, perman- 

 ganate solution. 

 11:50 A. M. — Respiration and heart's action much in- 

 creased, with a curious backward movement of the 

 animal. 



11:55 A. M. — Complete loss of motion in leg, with con- 

 siderable tumefaction of part injected. Animal 

 averse to motion even when irritated. 



12:30 P. M. — Animal moves more freely, and seems 

 better, although there is much more swelling and 

 discoloration in the vicinity of the point of injec- 

 tion. 



3 P. M. — Animal appears to be doing very well. 



Oct. .38—12 M.— Great tumefaction of leg and thigh, 

 cedenia of rectum. Punctured and let out large 

 amount of bloody serum. Animal has eaten, but is 

 averse to movement. 

 3 P. M. — Animal very sick, unable to stand; all motion 

 of hindlegs lost; is very weak. 



Oct. 29 — 10 A. M. — Rabbit was found dead in its box, ex- 

 cessive hemorrbage having taken place from the 

 wound. Post mortem: Great infiltration of blood 

 in the leg and surrounding tissue. Much decompo- 

 sition and sloughing. 

 It was now determined to try the effect of placing a 



ligature around the leg of a fowl before, injecting the 



venom, with the following result: 



Nov. 2 — Hen injected in left thigh with 3 minims of 

 venom solution with 10 minims of water added. 



12:40 P. M. — After a ligature had been placed two 

 inches above the place of injection, without with- 

 drawing the needle, 25 minims of 1 per cent, per- 

 manganate solution was injected. 



12:50 P. M. — The ligature was removed. 



1:15 P. M. — No effect. 



1:25 P. M. — Hen draws up the leg injected and stands 

 on the other. 



Nov. 3 — Fowl apparently in fair condition, but there is 

 much greenish discoloration of the leg and soften- 

 ing of the tissues contiguous to the joint where the 

 venom was injected, abscess forming. Is quiet and 

 stands upon both legs, but does not use the left leg. 



Nov. 4 — Fowl in about the same condition as yesterday; 

 greenish discoloration more marked, but not ex- 

 tending so far into the surrounding tissue. Part 

 quite soft and feverish. 



Nov. 5 — Fowl suffering no inconvenience from the in- 

 jection; discoloration of the part subsiding; very 

 little swelling. 



Nov. 6 — No result. 



Nov. 7 — Discoloration and swelling of part injected have 

 entirely disappeared and the fowl has entirely re- 

 covered from the effects of the venom. 

 It will be seen from this experiment that the perman- 

 ganate had a decided antagonistic effect to the venom, 

 doubtless because the ligature confined the latter to a 

 limited area, and prevented it being carried into the gen- 

 eral circulation. In the next experiment the venom so- 

 lution and permanganate were mixed together and used 

 with the result as noted below. 



Nov. 8 — 12:10 P. M. — Injected into the right leg of a fowl 

 3 minims of glycerine-venom, 5 minims of water and 

 30 minims of 1 per cent, solution of permanganate, 

 mixed in vessel and allowed to remain together 

 two minutes. Solution of permanganate changed 

 at once to a color resembling solution of dragon's 

 blood. 



Nov. 4 — Fowl appears to suffer no inconvenience from the 

 effects of yesterday's injection. Slight swelling 

 and discoloration, and only a slight increase of 

 temperature. 



Nov. 5 — Fowl as well as ever. 



Nov. 7. — Discoloration of and swelling of the part injected 

 has disappeared, and the fowl is in a perfectly 

 healthy condition. 

 With a view to still further determining the beneficial 

 effect of the ligature, the following experiment was tried 

 with a large dose of the venom and of the permangan- 

 ate: 



Nov. 10— 12:45 P. M.— Injected 10 minims of venom solu- 

 tion into right leg of hen below ligature, followed 

 at once by 25 minims of 2 per cent. sol. of potassa 

 permang. Ligature allowed to remain on three 

 minutes. The tissues near puncture were well 

 kneaded. (This chicken was injected before with 

 3 minims of venom and 1 per cent. sol. permangan- 

 ate.) 



2:30 P. M.— Fowl inclined to stand still, otherwise no 

 other symptoms noticed. 

 Nov. 11 — 11 A. M. — Fowl not inclined to move around, 

 but sits down ; not much swelling or inflammation of 

 the part injected, but a little darkened in color; 

 eats well. 



2:30 P M.— Fowl appears to be much better than she 

 was this morning; eats and drinks as usual. 

 Nov. 12 — 11 A. M. — Fowl slightly lame in the leg injected; 

 part swollen, with greenish discoloration; eats and 

 drinks well. 

 2:30 P. M. — Fowl in same condition. 

 Nov, 13— No result. 

 Nov. 14 — Fowl entirely recovered. 

 It was thought advisable to try the antidotal effect of 



a much stronger solution of the permanganate, giving a 

 small dose of venom, the result being as follows: 

 Nov. .-'i— 12:18 P. M.— Injected 3 minims of venom solu- 

 tion into left leg of hen, followed at once by 25 

 minims of 5 per cent, permanganate solution 

 through same puncture without removing the 

 canula. 



12:22 P. M. — Leg drawn up and trembling; respiration 

 quickened, and chicken lying down — can hardly 

 be made to stand np and oscillates backward and 

 forward, feathers ruffled. 



3 P. M.— Chicken will not stand, loss of motion of leg 

 injected. 



Nor. 32 — 11 A. M. — Chicken somewhat better, can use the 

 leg injected a little, but still inclined to lie down. 

 Much swelling and greenish discoloration of the 

 leg. 



Nov, 23 — Hen in about the same condition as yesterday. 



Will not stand up. 

 Nor. 35 — 10 A. M. — Hen found dead; much swelling and 

 sloughing of the leg injected. 



This same experiment was repeated upon other fowls 

 and upon rabbits, the result being death. 



It should be remembered in this connection that de 

 Lacerda claims that in nearly every case in which lie 

 used a one per cent, solution of tbe permanganate the 

 animal recovered, and moreover he claims that the anti- 

 dotal effect is produced even if a considerable period of 

 time has elapsed after the injection of the venom. In 

 our experiments we have shown that even a five per cent, 

 solution is of no value, and the reputed antidote was used 

 immediately after the injection, in fact so soon as the 

 venom was injected the barrel of tbe hypodermic syringe 

 was immediately unscrewed from the needle which was 

 allowed to remain imbedded in the tissues, the syringe 

 was rapidly filled with the permanganate and the injec- 

 tion was then made. Sometimes less than half a minute 

 was consumed in the whole operation. 



(TO BE CONTINUED.) 



RANGE OF THE WHITE GOAT. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I am collecting material on the range of the 

 Mazama montana, and desire to appeal for assist- 

 ance to such of your readers as may be familiar with 

 this interesting animal. I should be greatly indebted 

 to any one who can give me records of its most south- 

 ern, eastern and northern range. I have notes of its 

 occurrence in Colorado and central Montana — eastern 

 foothills of the Rocky Mountains — but no positive record 

 for Wyoming Territory, though there is little doubt that 

 it occurs somewhere in the western portion of that Ter- 

 ritory. It is no doubt found in southern Alaska, d?ut 

 how far north and how far east from the coast? No 

 doubt there are among your readers in the far West many 

 who could supply interesting notes on this species, and I 

 should feel greatly obliged to any one who would com- 

 municate with me on this subject. Any letters sent to 

 me care Forest and Stream will reach me. 



Geo. Bird Grinnell. 

 New York. 



Edible Fresh-Water Mussels. — Cold Spring Harbor, 

 N. Y., May 12.— Editor Forest and Stream: In your last 

 issue "N. A. T." makes inquiry concerning the edibility 

 of the Unios, or fresh-water mussels, and appeals to me 

 to tell him about them. Certainly they are edible, musk- 

 rats, Indians, and tbe Ichthyophagous Club eat them. 

 Once upon a time "N. A. T." dined with the club at Man- 

 hattan Beach, but no Unios were served on tb at occasion, 

 although he had other strange, horrible, and fantastic 

 dishes in abundance, yet the Colonel hesitates at the 

 hydraulic clam of fresh streams, and his courage fails 

 when he thinks of experimenting with it as an article of 

 diet. My experience with the fresh-water mussel is 

 limited: A trial of them raw was never repeated, although 

 salt, pepper and vinegar were liberally applied. They 

 were very tough, and had a flavor that one might like, 

 after years of practice, but I lacked that experience then 

 and have never acquired it. As one of the Ichthyophagi 

 I have eaten the Unio, and particularly remember them 

 at the third annual dinner in June, 1882, at the Palisade 

 Mountain House, where they appeared as ''Souffle of 

 fresh- water clams en coquifle." The flavor, under the 

 manipulation of the chef, was not bad, but the toughness 

 had not departed. No one imitated Oliver Twist, and the 

 next dish was looked for. Perhaps as the basis of a soup 

 they may be, if not to the Queen's taste, at least "fillin'," 

 and here is an opening for Col. "N. A. T." to do the 

 original discovery act. Certainty they are not poisonous, 

 and their edibility is merely a question of taste and — good 

 teeth.— Fred Mather. 



The Birds Near New York.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: As you are well aware, my profession keeps me 

 constantly in the field of topographical survey. I feel 

 positively happy to say that my observations distinctly 

 unfold the fact that this year's migration has left among 

 us, in vast numbers, the sweet, nimble, ever-busy house 

 wrens, Baltimore oriole and other insectivorous songsters, 

 long strangers to our city parks and suburban woods and 

 fields. Thanks are due to tbe blizzard, which killed off 

 thousands of the pugnacious English sparrows. Hence 

 the return of our long missed friends. The Audubon 

 estate and mansion will remain as it is, having been pur- 

 chased as tbe future private residence of one of our 

 wealthy German citizens.— Canonicus (North New York, 

 May 15). 



Iowa Wolf Bounties.— Vinton, Iowa, May 5.— As M. 

 T. Mutchler was going through the woods to-day, near 

 Vinton, his dog struck a trail and followed it to a den in 

 the ground. After digging about 5ft. he found a nest 

 containing eleven young wolves about one week old. He 

 brought them to town in a basket and received from the 

 auditor an order on the county treasurer for $33 for 

 tbem. Does any one know of a larger litter of *wolf 

 pups than that? — L. S. K. 



The Peters Cartridge Co., Cincinnati, 0.: Gentlemen— The shells 

 were simply immense. They are shells that will please every- 

 body, and 1 do not think that they will require much booming. 

 I used 48 of them on Peoria blackbirds and had the satisfaction of 

 smashing 47 of them. I found them quick, clean and with very 

 little recoil, and I must say that the pattern and penetration was 

 splendid. I think that your load No. 554, 4J4-1J4- 8 with No. I 

 powder will meet with the approval of every one wishing to do 

 good shooting at the trap.— R.. E. Sheldon (Mayfield, O., April 30, 



\mnt |?;*# m\A %w\. 



PETE, THE DOG WITHOUT A PEDIGREE. 



n. 



HOW HE HANDLED (OR FAILED TO HANDLE) THE MOUNTAIN 

 CAT. 



THREE miles due north of the Chestnut Shanty and 

 near the summit of the mountain may be found a 

 curious little savannah, grass-grown and encircled by a 

 dense laurel brake: and in this little oasis is the head 

 spring of Bear Run. Approaching it from the south and 

 following tbe backbone of the ridge for some 3 miles, 

 you suddenly find yourself on the edge of a rocky preci- 

 pice some 50 feet in height. The little prairie-like savan- 

 nah lies below with its heavy border of dark green 

 laurel, and a few dwarf pines are scattered about the 

 center. 



The two dark, muddy looking spots that you see among 

 the grass are bear wallows that w-ere there when the first 

 settlers came in, and have been used by tbe bears every 

 heated term for more seasons than any man knows of. I 

 do not know a more lonely spot: and, with the exception 

 of one old surveyor, I know of no one but myself who 

 has ever left his footprint on the dank sod of that grassy 

 little sevannah, the reason being that it is so very difficult 

 getting over the tangled border of low laurel which sur- 

 rounds it on every side. I have tackled some exasper- 

 ating laurel brakes in my time, but this is the worst one 

 I ever floundered through. It is like traveling on a road- 

 bed of hoopskirts and barbed fence-wire, and it remains 

 to-day almost the same as when I first saw it, some forty 

 years ago. Thank Heaven, there are a few green spots 

 on this green earth that it does not pay to "improve,*' but 

 they are remote. 



It was on the morning of our third dav's hunt in com- 

 pany that Pete and I found ourselves on "the brink of the 

 rocky ledge overhanging the broad laurel brake with its 

 setting of miniature prairie. We were there, man and 

 dog— because the party of the first part thought it a 

 promising range for bear and was somewhat anxious to 

 test his companion as a bear dog. And the other was 

 there because he was tied to his new master with a heinp- 

 rope and couldn't help himself. Several times during 

 the morning he had winded deer and had signaled the 

 same by sundry nudges and nips, but the party 

 at the other end of the rope was obtuse and would 

 not understand, being intent on looking for bear sign; 

 but no sign was given him, and the slow-paced stalk of 

 two hours ended at the brink of the cliff without event. 

 Glancing over the basin below, the quick eye of the man 

 caught on a cluster of leaf -heaps that seemed freshly 

 made, and seeking a place of easy descent he proceeded 

 to investigate. 



The heaps were five in number and larger than usually 

 made by a mountain cat, also, the largest heap showed 

 unmistakable signs of being newly worked. So the 

 eager dog was given his liberty, which he used by road- 

 ing rapidly into the laurel, while the man's heart beat 

 faster as he reflected that it might be a panther: and, 

 taking a position that commanded laurel brake and sa- 

 vannah he waited a little nervously with rifle at the 

 ready. For two or three minutes the silence was only 

 broken by the rustling and hustling of the dog as he 

 worked his way through the dense tangle, and then there 

 was a bounce, a crash, and a huge cat flying across the 

 clear space with a frantic dog at its tail. 



On reaching the laurel at the opposite side the cat made 

 a stumble that lost him a jump or two, and the dog closed 

 at once. It was a very brief round, but creditable to the 

 parties most nearly concerned as regards gameness and 

 the infliction of telling punishment. I think it took that 

 feline terror less than ten seconds to fight himself clear 

 and get away, leaving poor Pete a handsome addition to 

 his scars. He beat the dog across the laurel, and went 

 bounding up a large yellow birch with the ease and grace 

 of a squirrel, where he sat glaring fiercely and fearlessly 

 at the dog while I walked leisurely around the thicket 

 instead of crossing it, that I might arrive on the ground 

 in cool shooting condition. And the shot was not a good 

 one after all. The bullet should have gone fairly through 

 the head, instead of which it went through the neck just 

 under the bone, cutting arteries and knocking the beast 

 out of the tree, but leaving enotigh bite and kick in him 

 to half kill poor Pete before I could safely end the fight 

 by a shot. When stretched and cased properly the skin 

 measured 4 feet from tip of nose to roots of tbe tail, and 

 it was as large as I have ever handled myself, though I 

 have seen larger ones. On the return to camp, Pete did 

 not show his usual interest in hunting matters. He was 

 badly cut and clawed about the breast and abdomen, and 

 walked slowly along with hanging head while the blood 

 oozed from his w T ounded muzzle. Evidently he thought 

 one such cat-hunt a pretty fair day's work. 



It was time to break camp. Breadstuffs were reduced 

 to a few dry crumbs, pork, butter and sugar were things 

 of the past; there only remained a little tea and salt, with 

 plenty of venison, the latter beginning to grow suspi- 

 ciously slippery. A deer or two might easily have been 

 added to the score, but to no purpose save useless slaughter 

 and a wanton waste of good venison, for no one could af- 

 ford to double-trip it to that lone region. And on the 

 morrow by 1 P. M. Farmer B. was to reportjat the end of 

 the road just where he had landed me the week before. 



So the afternoon was spent in jerking the best part of 

 the doe and getting duffle in shape for a hard forenoon's 

 tramp. Then followed a long, luxurious lounge on the 

 fragrant browse, smoking, musing and mapping out plans 

 for an autumn hunt, to last untd cold weather drove me 

 out of the woods. As for the dull, hard routine of daily 

 work by which most of us must win our daily bread, I 

 decided to strike against that — at least for the season. 

 One may work always, if he will; the lame and lazy will 

 see to it that he has the chance. But successful hunting 

 — deer hunting — can only be done for a few weeks at the 

 proper time and season; and the acquisition of such a 

 hunting dog as Pete is the event of a lifetime. It was 

 the dog that decided me to make the fall hunt in the 

 wilderness to the westward of Pine Creek, where, though 

 deer were not as numerous, they were much more accessi- 

 ble than in the Blockhouse Range; and besides, I had 

 a very neat little camp there within two miles of the 

 stage road, which made it easy to utilize every pound of 

 venison not needed in camp. At sunrise the next morn- 



