Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 166, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1912 — RATTLESNAKE BITE ENDANGERS BOY’S LIFE. [ARTICLE]

RATTLESNAKE BITE ENDANGERS BOY’S LIFE.

Howard Speaks, IS Years Old, Bitten * weeding onions this Friday morning, Howard, the 13-year-old son ojfi. W. Speaks, of this city, was bit-, fen oa the hand by a rattlesnake. The lad, who was working for a man by the name of Williams at Newland for some time, was out in a field weeding onions and about 8:30, while he was crawling along on his hands and knees he was confronted by a large rattlesnake; the snake was coiled, and without warning, it struck him on the left hand before he could dodge. It’s fahgs pierded his middle finger between the second joint, and the hand. The lad was taken to the home of his sister, Mrs. Beebe, where he was given a large quantity of whisky, from the effects of which he has not yet fully recovered. George Martin procured an automobile and brought the lad here to Dr. Gwin’s office about 10:30. The boy’s hand and were badly swollen and he WM r in a perilous condition. Dr. Gwln lanced the wound and drained tfie blood from the hand, and after having been given local and general treatment to counteract the effect of the poison and to strengthen the nerves, the boy was removed to the home of his father* in the northeast part of town.* He was resting well this afternoon and the swelling in his hand had decreased. Although he Is not yet out of danger, the chances for his recovery are good. The snake that bit him is said to {have had seven rattles.