SNAKE FARMING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12637, 23 May 1919, Page 4

SNAKE FARMING.

ANTI-TOXIN FROM VENOM. In this day of progress wo often hear of queer occupations. One is sponge farming. Now wo hear of snake farming, am! science tells us, that the very venom that has brought death to thousands is being used to manufacture an anti-toxin against itself. In the Slate of Sao Paulo, Brazil, supported by the Brazilian Government, is a wonderful snake farm, or “ Institute of Serumthrapy,” as it is generally called by Dr Vital Brazil, who is at its head, and is considered oife of the greatest authorities on reptiles. In 1912 them wore 4SCO deaths from snakes' bites, and 19,200 victims who became cripples for life. To remedy this evil Dr Brazil started to experiment, and tho present institute, representing nearly 1,000,090 dollars outlay, is the result of four years’ labour. Tlic Brazilian Government estimated that one year, previous to the institute, the money loss from snakes was forty million francs a year, and the loss in domestic animals would add an enormous sum. To manufacture the anti-toxin it is necessary to obtain venom from tire various spbeies of snakes. They, are sent to the institute from all over Brazil. Th.o railways, by special arrangement, carry them free of charge. Tbo shipper, in return for his trouble, receives little glass vials _ carefully packed, and all necessary instruction as to the use of anti-toxin, that will enable him to save his life, even though tho application is made several hours after tho accident. In this way tho institute keeps on hand 5000 snakes of every species, both venomous and non-venomous. Tho process is quite simple. Tho venom is extracted by grasping the snake firmly, just behind its head, and then sqeeaing its glands, back of its paws. A light oily liquid, almost clear, but with a slight greenish yellow’ cast, drips slowly from the jaws into a glass receptacle which is then placed into an incubator and slowly evaporated. A crystalline formation is left, varying in colour according to the kind of snake from which it was obtained. The next stage is the inoculation of strong, healthy animals with- this poison. A minute quantity is- injected every day for three weeks. Tho animals used are generally mules, cattle or even horses. These being healthy and strong are able to resist a small injection of the poison, and as only a minute injection is made at a time, tho animals can manufacture in their blood an antitoxin. After three weeks each animal, having been under constant observation, is relieved of some of its blood, usually one or tivo quarts. The antitoxin, extracted from the blood, is a clear glycerine-like liquid. Forty-live cubic centimetres of it will cure the deadliest snake bite, the fluid being injected into tho patient’s veins just behind the shoulder blade. Another branch of the work is the raising of Mussuranas, a non-venomous snako of the constrictor type, deadly enemy to all venomous species. This snake is quite harmless, and is being used extensively in Brazil for garden pets and sometimes house pets as well, for it keeps tho house free from rodents of all kinds, and in the garden it will protect the owner against the poisonous snake.