The only
noticeable appearance was a slightly wild look about the eyes,
although the man did not seem to be the least alarmed. The region
of the wound was hard and somewhat painful, probably from having
been bruised by the teeth of the man who sucked the wound; it
remained so for about three hours. The throat was bound up in
rancid olive oil (the only kind at hand) and no internal remedy
was administered. There were no other bad consequences, and the
patient soon returned to duty.
Le Carpentier sends the report of a fatal case of
rattlesnake-bite: A private, aged thirty-seven, remarkable for
the singularity of his conduct, was known in his Company as a
snake-charmer, as he had many times, without injury, handled
poisonous snakes. On the morning of July 13, 1869, he was
detailed as guard with the herd at Fort Cummings, New Mexico,
when, in the presence of the herders, he succeeded in catching a
rattlesnake and proving his power as a sorcerer. The performance
being over and the snake killed, he caught sight of another of
the same class, and tried to duplicate his previous feat; but his
dexterity failed, and he was bitten in the middle finger of the
right hand. He was immediately admitted to the Post Hospital,
complaining only of a little pain, such as might follow the sting
of a bee or wasp.
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