Researches upon the venom of the rattlesnake : with an investigation of the anatomy and physiology of the organs concerned / by S. Weir Mitchell.

  • Mitchell, S. Weir (Silas Weir), 1829-1914.
Date:
[1860]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Researches upon the venom of the rattlesnake : with an investigation of the anatomy and physiology of the organs concerned / by S. Weir Mitchell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    CHAPTER I. OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF THE CROTALUS WHEN IN CAPTIVITY. During a large part of two years, the period which this research has occupied, I was a portion of each day in the room where the reptiles were kept, and conse- quently observed with care such of their habits as could be studied while they were in confinement. In regard to these I have a few observations to make, before considering their physiology and toxicology. It is by no means my intention to give a full account of the habits of the Crotalus, since this would involve a great deal of detail which is to be found else- where, and which would be foreign to the general purpose of this essay. The Rattlesnake of our Northern States, when at liberty, sometimes lives in the company of his fellows, but more frequently alone. I have had, in a single box, from ten to thirty-five snakes, and have never observed the slightest signs of hostility towards one another. Even when several snakes were suddenly dropped upon their fellows, no attempt was made to annoy the new-comers, while the sudden intrusion of a pigeon or a rabbit was met with ready resentment, whenever the snakes were fresh and in vigorous health. The habits of Rattlesnakes, when in confinement, are singularly inactive. Even in warm weather, when they are least sluggish, they will lie for days together in a knotted mass, occasionally changing their position, and then relapsing into perfect rest. The contrast between this ordinary state of repose, or sluggish movement, and the perilous rapidity of their motion when striking, is most dangerously decep- tive. In contrast also with their slow locomotion is the marvellously rapid action of their rattles, which, when annoyed or molested, they will sometimes continue to agitate for hours at a time. It is the general experience of those who have kept rattlesnakes, that they seldom eat in captivity. I have known a snake to exist for a year without food, and although I have made every effort to tempt my own snakes, I have never seen any one of them disposed to avail itself of food, when placed within its reach. Dumeril states that this is the usual experience in the Garden of Plants, but that at the end of six or eight months they commonly accept food. He also adds that the very young pigeon is the food they are most inclined to eat. After tempting the snakes with this, as well as with birds, mice, rabbits, etc., and finding the food as often untouched, I finally gave up the attempt, and con- tented myself with feeding, by force, such of them as seemed feeble and badly nourished. For this purpose, I used milk and insects, which I placed in their throats, while they were properly pinioned. To effect this, the snake was secured, and the lower jaw held in the grasp of a pair of forceps, while a funnel, with a