Memories of Lozère: from the time when snakes were hunted for the pharmacy

At the end of the 19th century^e century, strange hunters roamed the countryside in search of snakes, more particularly vipers.

These somewhat special hunters sold the captured reptiles to pharmacists who then took care of sending them to the Pasteur Institute. Researchers from this organization then manufactured antivenoms.

Now protected

Each department, or almost, then had one or more snake catchers. The pharmacists paid for each catch around 10 to 15 cents per piece (between 25 to 35 euro cents). Some pharmacists concocted their own serum, at the user's own risk.

This somewhat special hunt continued until the years 1960-1965. “I remember, as a kid, having participated, with friends from the Pont de Berlière district in Mende, in this type of harvest and resale to the local pharmacist. We were not as well equipped as this professional called Jean Serpent. Of course, our parents didn't know. Nowadays, the reptile in question is protected and this type of stalking is prohibited.“