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Hi all,
Let me start (so everyone doesn't jump down my throat) by saying I have pretty well no respect for Ray Hoser based on the paper's I've read of his and also based on his ridiculously childish reputation. I DO NOT AGREE THAT ANY VENOMOUS SNAKE, FOR ANY REASON, SHOULD UNDERGO THIS OPERATION, unless of course it was to save the life (somehow) of a captive animal. Of course, in Ray Hoser's context, it is not the case.
I have just read the paper (got down to about the 80% mark then just skimmed the rest) and it SOUNDS like there was aneasthetic offered to the snake. For example:
"Because I had complete control over the snake’s state of consciousness....."
"Means to sedate the snake"
"Sedation - up to an hour"
And he also notes the following points during the paper:
"Appropriate antibiotic (with known benefits in terms of reptile pathogens)" - this was in the checklist of things needed for the surgery
"The whole lower mouth area was then irrigated liberally with Povodine Iodine (Betadine) and Neosporin (Antibiotic)" - stated in the account of the operation.
Now, I'm just wondering what people think of this??? It sounds like he has sedated the snake to a reasonable degree because the sedation time (approx 1 hour) runs in line with the 45mins it took Dr. Harry Cooper to sedate a turtle on his TV program (a result of reptiles' lower rate of breathing).
Like I've already said, I don't support this practice at all and Ray is not someone I'd ever defend but when people say it was all done with NO anaesthetic, I'm not sure they're correct.
I am aware (by his comments at the beginning of the paper) that he may have used cooling as his form of sedation but I'm not sure. It seems from his comment about having complete control over the snake's consciousness that it would be more than that.
What do you all think??? It seems the man is sick though, using the most "expendable" snake.
Simon Archibald
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