[meteorite-list] Mojave Green Jeans - Images of a Killer Snake

[Jan Bartels]

Listoids,

Besides meteorites we are also keepers and breeders of these nasty "worms" 
for almost 30 years now.
Besides several Cobra species, Puffadders, Asian and African Bushvipers we 
also have some Rattlers as well. Never got bitten until about 3 months back. 
We had a nest of 7 babies, at least I thought so....number 8 showed itself 
after removing the water bowl from their cage and got me right in one of my 
fingers. When you think of a baby ratler produces less venom your way 
wrong!! The thing is they still need to learn how to control the amount of 
venom needed when hunting for prey. The adults may even give a "dry bite" 
many times just to defend themselves and are more or less aware they need 
their venom better to catch prey. I got a bite from an adult Diamond Back a 
few years ago and nothing happened......

Believe me, when they stike and give you the full amount....you'll know!!
Immediately when that baby got me, my finger started swelling up. The pain 
was unbaerable. When you feel the venom is pumped in your finger it feels 
like a very hot local electric shock.

After a few hours my arm turned all colors of the rainbow and at the end my 
complete arm was swollen over 6 inches thicker than my other arm.
I ended up at the ICU with tubes sticking out from every hole in my body, 
beeping monitors everywhere and needed 8 vails of antivenom with an even 
more dangerous risk....not everybody reacts positive on these antivenoms and 
they even may get things worse. You even may suffer from an aflectic shock 
(an extra alergic reaction from the rattlers venom) which also can be 
deadly.
Because all went pretty fast and I was in time for proper treatment I still 
have my arm (with my finger still numb though) Most of my smaller vains were 
"eaten" by the hematoxin which caused the black and blue colors, I stll have 
some kidney and liver failure but at least I'm still alive. The antivenom 
really worked well in my case and after that the recovery went really fast.

Just an extra warning on all posts about this subject....be carefull also 
for the babies!!!

Theres an old saying going in our crazy hobby about rattlers:

A rattlesnake is a nasty desert worm saying...."f...ck off" on one 
side....and "that's why"... on the other !!

Take care on these desert hunts!!

Jan,
IMCA 9833
Holland



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas" <tmorgan at mind.net>
To: "Meteorite-list" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 9:31 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Mojave Green Jeans - Images of a Killer Snake


> Another good point that people often don't think of is to remove jewelry
> on the affected limb. Rings especially. The swelling from a snakebite is
> unbelievable. A hand can get almost as big as a soccer ball. A ring left
> on will cost you that finger.
>
> Transport fast and call ahead if possible, it takes awhile to get
> antivenom ready.
>
> Thomas M
> -former Mojave area ER nurse
>
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