[NHCOLL-L:2917] RE: Preparation of venomous snakes

[Bob Glotzhober]

Karen, Greg et al.:
I don't recall where I heard or read it, but there is an interesting story that I always have assumed was basically urban legend (or rural legend might be more accurate).  I believe there is a kernel of truth in it (which both of you have reflected on with the duration of toxicity of dried venom), but doubt that in reality the whole story could be true.

It seems that a cowpoke while off his horse and walking through some brush got struck at by a rattlesnake.  The snake hit his boot, but it did not penetrate the boot.  After shooting the snake (an all too real part of the story) the cowpoke walked away, relieved that he had not been bitten.  Unknown to him, however, one of the fangs broke off in the leather of his boot.  Gradually the fang worked its way inward.  When it scratched his skin, the blood dissolved some of the dried venom.  Not ever realizing he had been "bitten" (as it was some time after his experience with the snake) he never made any connection with the symptoms.  The reaction proceeded to his heart and he died.  Moreover, his grieving wife passed his boots on to their son.  Many years later his son wore his father's boots, and succumbed to the same dread end.  As I recall the story, it was finally the grandson, who scratched by boot and getting a sore foot, finally investigated the boot and figured out the entire story.

Take it for what's it worth.  While probably not a true story -- it expresses in an amusing manner the potential danger of old fangs with dried venom.  By the way -- if any of you know where this story came from -- I like to know.

Bob Glotzhober
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Curator, Natural History       bglotzhober at ohiohistory.org
Ohio Historical Society
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-----Original Message-----
From: gregory.watkins-colwell at YALE.EDU
[mailto:gregory.watkins-colwell at YALE.EDU]
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 10:42 PM
To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:2916] RE: Preparation of venomous snakes


Karen,
I know some folks use an ethanol soak following bug-prep of all specimens,
mostly to help ensure that the bugs are dead, but with other possible added
benefits.  I wonder if this might help denature any venom that would remain in
a hot snake, or any other dangerous product.

I know a curator who was once handling a Heloderma skeleton and pricked his
finger on the tooth and also got venomation symptoms.  Has anyone ever
collected these stories?  It would be an interesting thing to read.

Greg


Quoting "White, Rich" <RichW at thewildlifemuseum.org>:

> Karen,
>
> Yes, you do need to be very careful with venomous snakes, even with very
> old, dried and prepared specimens.  I once was handling a large
> collection of snakes which had been obtained from animal importers/
> breeders in the 1970's.  I was catalogueing and curating the lot in 1999
> or 2000, and was handling a bugged and dried skeleton of Jameson's
> mamba,  Dendroaspis jamesoni.  I pricked my finger on one of the fangs,
> and almost immediately began to have tingling and numbness in my hand
> and arm.  I went to the hospital, where they watched me for a bit.
> Fortunately, the symptoms abated fairly quikcly and they didn't have to
> try to get antivenon.  But it scared me into being much more careful
> with such material.
>
> Rich
>
>
>
> Richard S. White, Jr.
> Director
> International Wildlife Museum
> 4800 West Gates Pass Road
> Tucson, Arizona 85745
> 520-629-0100 extension 252
> Fax: 520-618-3561
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
> [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Cebra
> Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 1:19 PM
> To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: [NHCOLL-L:2914] Preparation of venomous snakes
>
> Is there any danger posed to a preparator when processing venomous
> snakes?
> In the many years I have been preparing specimens, I have always used
> extra caution with such specimens. However, it would be great to know
> what the risks really are!
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Karen Cebra
> Human Identification Laboratory
> California State University at Chico
> kcebra at altair.ucdavis.edu
>