SERPENTS 
by a quick dart, either upon the head or neck of the snake 
disable the reptile at one bite. The oft-repeated nonsense 
of the ichneumon finding a remedy for the cure of the 
poison is now nearly exploded ; the fact is, that the 
ichneumon dies if the poison is administered to the 
wound in sufficient quantity. These facts are now well 
established by some of the best, most competent, and 
undoubted authorities. 
When a large and powerful poisonous serpent strikes a 
small animal, the blow is struck with the swiftness of an 
electric shock, the wounded and poisoned animal is in- 
stantly paralyzed, and frequently dies in less than thirty 
seconds. Having disposed, for the time, of the supposed 
remedy of the ichneumon and the imagined immunity of 
this animal from the effects of the poison, let us take a 
further step into this very difficult and always dangerous 
and unpleasant subject for investigation. How few persons 
can be found who are sufficiently acquainted with the 
subject, and have the requisite knowledge and determina- 
tion to enter fully and fairly into the inquiry ; for in all 
countries there exists a superstitious dread of snakes, and 
it is extremely rare to find any one, not interested in taking 
advantage of the fears or credulity of his fellows, who 
would be able or skilful enough to catch and handle the 
most poisonous serpents fresh from their native haunts. 
Certainly not one person in twenty thousand ; and unless 
this could be done, we are reduced to believe the crafty and 
designing rascals known as snake charmers, catchers, etc. 
To such people, the handling of snakes — even the most 
deadly — is a very easy and simple amusement. As before 
stated, how few persons could be induced to touch or 
examine closely a creature that, by a slight stroke from its 
tooth, might produce almost instant death ! 
I must confess to having, in former years, practised, in 
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