THE SNAKE PERIL

Evening Star, Issue 22637, 1 May 1937, Page 31

THE SNAKE PERIL

ATTACKED IN BRAZIL A FARM FOR SERUM The Butantan Institute, better known as the “Snake Farm,” was founded at Sao Paulo in 1899 to prepare serums against bubonic plague, then prevalent in the neighbouring port or Santos, writes a correspondent from llio de Janeiro to the ‘Manchester Guardian.’ When that scourge disappeared it began making serums to counteract animal and vegetable poisons, which cause many deaths each year in the interior of Brazil. Later it turned its attention

also to the preparation of vaccines against gangrene, tetanus, typhoid, smallpox, anti other diseases. Tne institute receives each year from local bodies and public-spirited individuals throughout the country many thousands of poisonous snakes, lizards, frogs, centipedes, scorpions, and other insects, in exchange it distributes serum and vaccine, with instructions for preventing and curing the diseases which are endemic locally and all kinds of mineral and vegetable poisoning. Over 100,000 ampoules of serum and 10 times as many tubes of vaccine are produced annually. A SERIES OF CORRALS. The serpents are kept in a series of grassy corrals surrounded by ditches and low stone walls. Trees are provided for the climbing varieties, and stone hutches shaped like beehives, with oue

small opening near the ground, are scattered over the lawns to serve as living quarters. Curled up in the sunlight one sees Brazilian rattle-snakes Oft long, with. fox-like heads and dia-mond-shaped markings; brick-red “surucucus” (lachesis mutus), with black, triangular patches and protuberant scales; “ unites ” (bothrops alternata), with horseshoe markings, and every variety of coral snake. The great “ jararacussus,” member of the Bothrops family, 10ft long, congregate down by the water’s edge, and the bird-catch--IJlg ‘ jararacas,” lie stretched along tho boughs of the trees, their colouring scarcely distinguishable from that of tho loaves.

These are the principal poisonous serpents of Brazil. The “ surucucu ” is the most dangerous by reason of its strength and ferocity. The rattlesnake is more venomous, however, the effects

of ita bite often reappearing after an apparent cure, and the bird-catching “ jararaca ” is almost equally deadly, as it attacks from the trees, injecting its venom into the head and shoulders, where the effects are very serious. The “ urutu,” although less dangerous than any of the above, is believed by the peasants to leave orte disabled when it does not kill. This pest infests the coffee plantations, biting the hands and arms of the women and children employed to pick the berries, FROM THE ADULT SNAKES. The venom is extracted ffom the adult snakes at Butantan twice monthly. The attendants, their arms and legs protected by leather sheaths, walk unconcernedly among the hissing, spitting reptiles, catching their victims in a leather noose at the end of a long pole. The poison is drawn by pressing

the fangs against a glass receptacle. It is then injected repeatedly daring six months into horses which have been immunised, after which the animals are bled, and the plasma is refined until only the clear scrum remains.

Since the institute was founded mortality from snake-bites in Brazil has decreased from 2.6 to 1.1 per thousand of the population, and the percentage of fatal cases has dropped from 25 to less than four per cent, of the number treated. These figures , are the more remarkable in view of the constant increase of serpents in the country, on account of the progressive burning of forests for agricultural purposes. This makes life easier for the snakes by driving away their hereditary enemies and promoting the increase of rodents,, on which they feed. The mortality does not seem high when one considers the peasant’s disregard of the serpent

danger and his ignorant procedural when accidents occur. Meu persist i«i working with bare feet and legs iv dense undergrowth and, when bitten# have recourse to witch doctors or drinlE kerosene, which poisons them, an<£ apply caustics which inflict serous buimS without, affecting the venom. # The institute is doing excellent word# in dispelling this ignorance and spread!! ing knowledge as to the best methods of prevention and cure. In addition t% its biological and research laboratories# it maintains vaccination and immunisaa* tion posts and a school at which" planters and medical Students receive free instruction.