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Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 57, 26 May 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

Experiments with Shirk's Antidote for Snake Bites — An ocular demonstration of the efficacy of Shire's antidote for snake bites was afforded yesterday nfternoon, to several representatives of the medical profession and others, on the premises of Mr. John Holdsworth, chemist. Pall Mall. It will be remembered that some three years a»o Shires exhibited his regard lessness for venemous reptiles at Eaglehawk, since which he has frequently indulged in the luxury of snake bites, for the purpose of showing a perfect cv re ; and it appears that some weeks aj>o he placed the recipe of the antidote in the hands of Mr. ltoiilsworth, who did not feel justified in giving the mixture publicity, until he had seen its virtues. Shires accordingly started for Swan Mill to procure the neccsssary reptiles, and returned on Monday evening with a case containing seventeen formidable-looking snakes, comprising tiger and swamp makes, and deaf adders ; these were indiscriminately placed on a table around which the anxious spectators arranged themselves at sulJieient distances to evade the possibility of being unexpectedly attacked. After hanging them about his neck and allowing them to move around his head, till were replaced in the case save one, which, after being enraged was placed in contact wiih a full-jjrown fowl, and was not removed until a bite had deen indicted in the cock's comb. An interval of some five or six minutes elapsed, when the venom be.«an to find its way to i the vital parts, and after a short convulsive struggle the fowl died. An innocentlooking kitten was in attendance to share a similar fate, but its services were happily dispensed with. Shires then bared his arms, and took From the case a swamp snake, whose bite is second only to the udder in its fatal results. A few moments ' sufficed to arouse the ire of the reptile [ which he held by the head in one hand, whilst, the forefinger of the other was put into the mouth of the enraged snake ; a cringe and a shudder .showed too clearly that the bite was the reverse of pleasant. The snake being replaced in the case, our hero, with wounded finger, immediately drank a tumbler of cold water, after which the antidote was applied ; the consequent sickness soon followed, but after a lapse of half an hour we saw our hero parading the streets as though nothing extraordinary had happened. Prior to this voluntary submission to possible death, Shires placed in his mouth the head of one of these subseq«i j nlly dangerous reptiles, which we imagine was intendcu for an exhibition of daring, somewhat on the Van Amburgh principle. — Bendigo Adcrtiser.

Capers, 'is per cubic foot Carra\vay seeds, free Carriage lamps, 3s per cwt. Chains (with anchors or for ship's use), free Chain (all other), 3s per cwt. Cherry cordials, 9s per gallon* Cheese, free Clocks, free Coffee,. essence of, free Corrugated irou sheets,,free Cotton wick, free Curry powder, free Eau de Cologne, 9s per gallon , Fencing wire and standards (iron) free Pish, preserved, free Flavoring essences, free Floor-cloth, free Forges and iron-work, loose, 3s per cwt. Forks, digging and hay, 3s per cwt. Galvanized iron sheets, free „ „ wire, free „ „ ware as buckets, gutter ter angles, ridge caps, tiles, and ornamental pieces, Ss per cwt Gelatine, free Gingei-bread, free Ginger cordials, 9s per gallon* Groafs, free Gun barrels, 5s eacli f Gutta percha, freej Harrows, free ; Herrings, preserved, free I Ho (is, free Horse shoes, 3s per cwt. Huckaback (hemp or flax) is per cubic foot Hurdles, iron, free Iron chairs, 3s per cwt „ safes, Ss per cwt „ tanks, free Ironwork for ships' use,'free Isiuglass, free Jams and jellies, 4s per cubic foot Jewellery, free Lenion and lime juice, free Linseed oil, free Lobsters, preserved, free Maccaroni, 4s per cubic foot Machinery, agricultural or other, free Meats, potted or preserved, free Night lights, free Oatmeal, free Oilcloth, free t, table covers, 4s per pubic foot Olive oil (perfumed), free Olives, -Is pur cubic foot Orange bitters, Os per gallon* Oysters, preserved, free Paint, free Pearl barley, free Ploughs, free Hick cloth, free § Safes, iron, 3s per cwt Sago, free Salad oil, 4s per cubic foot Salt, free Sardines, 4s per cubic foot Sasli weights, 3s per cwt Scythes, 3s per cwt Sheaves, brass, for ships' use, free Shot, iVec Shovels, ys per cwt. Soda, free Soda crystals, free Soups (fish and vegetable, preserved) free Spades, 3s per cwt. Starch, free Steel (bar), free Syrups, free Tal»le covers (oilcloth), 4s per cubic foot Tanks (iron), free Tapioco, free Tarpaulins, free Tiles, iron, 3s pt>r cwt. Tinman's tools, :)n per cwt Vermicelli, 4s pur cubic foot Vesta matches (wax), free Vinegar( in any package or. vessel), free Wa ches, free Wick, cotton, free Whiting, free Winnowing cloths, free§ Wire, iron l'enctnsr, five Wire, small (as bell wire ), 3s per cwf. * Orange Hitlers, Cherry and Ginger Cordials, <!vc., are liable to duty at 9s per gallon. But if the importer iimke a declaration, and the Collector certify that these goods do not contain more than JO percent, of spirit, they may, upon application to the Commissioncrof Customs, be admitted at 4s per cubic foot. t Importation of Arms, &c, without I license is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine or imprisonment. I X A manufacture composed of any of the articles comprised in Section 7» and in which gutta percha is used merely to make it waterproof, is chargeable with 4s per cubic foot. § When the fabric is not superior to ordinary sail-cloth. « _