Large Coral Snake (please don't do this!)

[cobraman]

Let me be the first to say "THIS IS NOT THE PROPPER WAY TO HANDLE A CORAL SNAKE!!!" In my case, it's one of the many venoms I use in my injections and their venom does nothing at all to me anymore (but that does not make it ok). Plus the snake was very cool, and not at all active. Just don't !! ok, then, why the hell did ya post the pic, ya big dummy? well, because it's a bug beautifull snake and I thought I'd share it's beauty. So there. (happy Scott?)
Peace, all
Ray Hunter

[cobraman]

Moderators, You have my blessings to remove this pic if you feel it is inappropriate.
Ray

[FacultyX]

Ray, how big is that Coral? If it's eating, would you part with it? I need a male. btw, cool pic. Judging from this pic, and the ones you took of scott making faces at your hooded cobra, you seem to have an interesting work day on Saturdays. Please keep the pics coming. Most of us enjoy them, and acknowledge that they are only entertainment, and your strange handling habits are not to be copied.
Be cool, bro
Freddy

[cobraman]

Sorry, Fred, I just sold it this evening to a gentleman in LA.
Blessings
Ray

[asphyxia]

Nice, Ray .... Y.C.S.O.A.B

Hey Ray, Can you tell us why people need to take venom.

Thanks
Brian

Keep those pictures coming,

[BWSmith]

tsk tsk Ray......... now you know my feeligns on such pics.

But on another note, you KNOW I am always trying to get more corals for my research. Next time drop me aline Bro.

[moperri]

Nice snake Ray

[cobraman]

Thanks all, Brian (asphyxia) to answer your question, we DON'T need to take venom shots, in fact you would be hard pressed to find a doctor that would support the practice. There are some (very few, I'm sure) who inject VERY diluted venoms (in my case, a mixture of 9 venoms) to build up resistance to the neurotoxic effects of snakebites. Bill Haast (now 92) started this in the mid 1940's, and has lived through over 174 venomous bites (including a Malayan Pit Viper bite two weeks ago) with very few hospitalizations. When an antigen is introduced into your body, your white blood cells produce an antibody to attack (so to speak) the antigen (in this case snake venom). After a period of weekly injections where the venom is slowly increased (called hyperimmunization) your body become quite resistant to SOME of the effects of venom. Obviously you can not become immune to the edema, eccymosis, and pain associated with most snakebites, but the idea is that you survive the bite. I have been self immunizing since 1990, have had XX bites, and seem to still be living. So it does work to some degree. There are many medical reasons not to do this (too many to list), and you can develope hypersensitivity to venoms which would make a bite much worse than had you not been self immunizing. It is my opinion that self immunizing makes you more careless. And blah blah blah...............Hope I've answered your question. We don't need to inject venom, but those of us who work daily with many venomous snakes do as an added protection.
Blessings
Ray Hunter

[asphyxia]

Very interseting

Thanks Ray
Brian

[Jurliki]

Some resistance to the bites is necessary for those who work daily with venomous snakes, I'm sure. It's just like the helmet when you're ridding a motorbike. It don't takes off the risk of accidents, but helps you to survive.


Jurliki

[Gorelith]

Do you know if Bill Haast has made any progress as far as funding for his polio experiments. For those who don't know of Bill's history he actually created a cure for polio in the 30's using a mixture of cobra venoms. When the public of course found out, the plugged was quickly yanked on his research. I've seen him on T.V. recently and he's 92 years old and states he hasn't had so much as a cold in roughly 60 years. Does anyone else know of others who're studying the effects of venom on the human immune system and possible cures etc. The reason for my interest is, the other half has recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and i;ve seen that bee sting venom helps ms sufferers produce cortisone, a normally naturally occuring steroid that ms victims tend to lack. Just wondering what progress is being made in all fields of venom study.

[cobraman]

Gorelith, Bill stopped his work with polio at the insistance of the FDA many years ago. Shortly afterwards the current vaccine for polio came out. He has done a lot of other work with the use of venoms since then, including some work to ****** the AIDS virus. He is currently doing venom production still, but is leaving all the medical research to other labs that purchase his venoms. I feel that a new & updated book about him is in order. He seemed to be open to this idea when I mentioned it to him, but it is now up to someone to write it (wish I had jurnalist training!).
Blessings
Ray Hunter

[josefg]

Very nice pic Ray! Can you post some pics of your facility please? Also you mention a book about Bill Haast. Is that book still to come out or is there one already... and if yes, can you give me the title please (should be an interesting read after I finish The Lord of the Rings, which I am reading for the millionth time :rolleyes:

Thanks Ray.

[Dom]

Very interesting convos .. Ray, do u suffer any side effects from the small injectin dosage?

Just curious but by far - extremelly facinating

btw .. URE CRAZY lol can't beleive ure handling him like that .. I have just started dealing with venemous snakes and i get the shakes if i had to actually touch one lol hooks make me fell so much safer lol

U are one brave men though I gotta hand it to you ..

Take care
Dom

[Matt]

so does that mean you decided to go HOT Dom? :D

[cobraman]

Josef, The only book out currently is called "Cobras In His Garden" by Harry Kursh (now dead, I believe). It was written in 1965, so as you can immagine, a new updated book is long overdue, as Bill has done so much in the past 38 years since the first book was written. Good luck finding a copy. Once in a while amazon.com can find you a used copy. It is an excellant book.

Dom, no side effects, except on the very rare occasion that I miscalculate doses and inject what would be a very fatal dose to someone else (shut up, Scott!), but snake venom does wonders to your liver. To my knowledge there have been no other side effects. Relish the safety of proper tools, and live longer ---that's my advice to you.
Blessings
Ray Hunter

[marisa]

You know exactly what happens to your liver? Not medical terms just basically what it does?

marisa

[Mustangrde1]

Shut Up ... Now hold on I didnt say a thing not one thing . I am being a good boy at this junction. But two words are in order.GOT MAMBA..

Peace Brother see you soon

Scott

oh ya no racks today figures its a holiday.

[ReptileHQ]

I've had a tough time finding that book Ray, I saw one copy at the last Chicago show, but someone grabbed it before me at $75 U.S.

Any idea where I could track a copy down at a reasonable price?

Chris

[josefg]

Thank Ray

[cobraman]

Chris, I see them once in a while at these reptile expos, but if you go to amazon.com, they will actually try to find you a copy. That is your best bet.

Scott, No, you did not say anything, but I knew where your mind was going when you read it (think coral snake, and the number 33).

Marisa, Your liver filters and metabolizes a lot of what goes through your bloodstream, and the venom from snakes is harmfull due to the cytotoxins in the venoms. I do a LFP test every three months to check my liver enzymes (so far, so good).

[Dom]

Tx fot the reply Ray ..

Matt: Yes that means I have decided to go down that road.. very slowly and safely though .. I have my own personal reasons that justifies dealing with hots.