40 
ALMOST HUMAN 
AN INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTE. 
Two University men had been experimenting on antidotes for snake 
poisons. At last they came to the conclusion that they had succeeded 
in discovering just what the Australian public wanted, and were ready 
for final tests. So they called upon Mr. Le Souef one morning with 
the request that he would allow a venomous snake to bite a dog they had 
with them in order to demonstrate the efficacy of the antidote. They 
were positive that no harm could come to the animal from the bite ; their 
chemical tests were remarkably accurate, and the antidote would act 
the moment the virus began to work. Mr. Le Souef happened to be 
particularly busy that morning, but, ever willing to help forward scientific 
research, he went at once into the gardens with the investigators. He 
is quite fearless where snakes are concerned, and will handle them with 
a freedom that astonishes and terrifies the ordinary mortal. So, without 
the loss of a moment, he opened the door of the snake house, selected a 
particularly venomous-looking snake and hauled him out. Then in a 
most businesslike way he asked the man who was carrying the dog to 
hold him out for the experiment. 
But the discoverers of the infallible antidote were not prepared for 
any such casual acquaintanceship with venomous snakes. They begged 
Mr. Le Souef to be most careful of what he was doing — and surely he 
did not imagine they were going to hold the dog out for the snake to 
bite like that? Supposing ? Wouldn’t he put the dog and 
the snake in a box together somewhere, anywhere, as long as there was 
no attendant danger for the experimenters? 
One man began hastily preparing the implements for the cure after 
the disease was communicated. He got out his cotton wool, his scarifier 
and his syringe. The other still argued the case with Mr. Le Souef, who, 
at last, cried: 
“Come, come, gentlemen. I’m holding the snake in such a way that 
it cannot possibly do you any harm. Hold the dog here and it will be 
over in a second, then I can put the snake back in its cage.” 
Very cautiously, very timidly, at last one of them held the dog out. 
The snake snapped viciously, the dog yapped, and Mr. Le Souef flung 
the reptile back among its companions. He was more concerned about 
the success of the antidote than even the two chemical analysts. But 
while the man with the dog was holding it out anxiously to his companion, 
that gentleman was eagerly searching his pockets, his bag, his accoutre- 
ments, and then his pockets once more. 
“I — I did have it — I’m certain I had it,” he said nervously. “Bless 
me, where is it?” 
