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CHAPTER TEN
DEFIERS OF POISONOUS REPTILES: THARDO; MRS. LEARN, DEALER IN RATTLESNAKES.—SIR ARTHUR THURLOW CUNYNGHAME ON ANTIDOTES FOR SNAKE-BITE.—JACK THE VIPER.—WILLIAM OLIVER, 1735.—THE ADVICE OF CORNELIUS HEINRICH AGRIPPA, (1486-1535).—AN AUSTRALIAN SNAKE STORY.—ANTIDOTES FOR VARIOUS POISONS.
ABOUT twenty-two years ago, during one of my many engagements at Kohl and Middleton's, Chicago, there appeared at the same house a marvelous "rattle-snake poison defier" named Thardo. I watched her act with deep interest for a number of weeks, never missing a single performance. For the simple reason that I worked within twelve feet from her, my statement that there was absolutely no fake attached to her startling performance can be taken in all seriousness, as the details are still fresh in my mind.
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