File:Birds and nature (1901) (14746164314).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature9101unse (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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ty seconds to seven min-utes. Brehm relates that a young Helo-derma, and in poor physical condition be-sides, was induced to bite the leg of alarge, well-fed cat, which did not die, butgave signs of prolonged terrible suffer-ings. It became dull and emaciated andnever regained its former good spirits. Among several cases of Gila Monsterbites inflicted on human beings can bequoted that of Dr. Shufeldt, who, in TheAmericanNaturalist,,, gave an interestingaccount of the sensations he experienced.It is sufficient to say that the pain, start-ing from a wound on the right thumb,went like an electric shock through thewhole body and was so severe as to causethe victim to faint. Immediate treatmentprevented more serious consequences.The Doctor, nevertheless, was a very sickman for several days and began to re-cover only after a week had elapsed. The constituents of the venom are asyet not thoroughly known, but it is saidto be of an alkaline nature, the opposite 80 LIBRARYUNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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of snake poison, which is acid. It actsupon the heart, the spine and the nervecenters and causes paralysis. Other scientists claim the saliva of theHeloderma is poisonous only in certaincases and under certain circumstances. Itmay also depend upon the physical condi-tion of the victim at the time the venomenters into the system. Yet there is lit-tle doubt that, if help is not at hand im-mediately, the bite may prove fatal. The Apaches stand in dire fear of thisanimal, so that, at least, with their olderpeople no amount of money seems tempt-ing enough to make them go near it,much less to capture one. A former resi-dent of the territories says both Indiansand Mexicans believe firmly that if a GilaMonster only breathes in your face it isquite sufficient to cause immediate death.On an old Indian trail, a good days jour-ney west from the present site of Phoenix,can be found, crudely outlined on the faceof a rock, the picture of two Helodermaspursuing a man who runs to save his life.Numerou

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