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Show "Rarorbacks" Tied Up; Snakes Increase NOW that "snake bite" medicine Is no longer procurable, the country coun-try Is literally being overrun with poisonous reptiles, the biological survey sur-vey and forestry service snnounce. The reason for this, however, has not as much to do with the scarcity of far-famed antidotes as it bas with the disappearance of the late lamented razorback porker and the building up of fences separating various plots of plowed land and estates. Time was, and not so long ago, the Department of Agriculture announces, an-nounces, when the life of a snake, even the deadly rattler, was a short one. The hog reigned supreme In the forest. There were no fences and his range was a wide one. Ills favorite dish was the live rattler. And In his greed the territory over which- he ranged was completely cleared of this most dangerous of American reptiles. For a long time scientists marveled mar-veled at the ability of the hog to conquer a poisonous snake In free for all, catch weights, open combat. Experiments were conducted and It was learned that the hog made no effort ef-fort at all to avoid-the snake or hi bite. Ills heavy hide and the thick mooting of fat Just beneath has no circulation. The snake struck' fair, but It had no more effect than biting a tree. The poison did not get Into the circulation circu-lation of the hog, but the snake did get Into the ample "digestion of the swine. Then the Vanderhllts acquired a vast estate In North Carolina and fenced It In. . Others followed. Came state fence laws, compelling owners of property to keep their swine and cattle from roaming at large. The razorback, being after no fashion a thoroughbred, was barred and In his pluce came the very lazy, stall-fed, Berkshlres. At about this time field workers for the two government, services dls- covered that snakes were beginning to Increase. And within the last year. It is announced, they have become so dangerous that employees have been equipped with emergency kits, so frequently fre-quently are they attacked by rattlers. |