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Have you ever heard of a story about a man in Guangxi who brewed a pot of snake wine by himself in order to maintain his health, and planned to open the altar to taste it a year later. However, when he opened the jar, he was horrified to find that the snake in the jar was still alive and had come out and bit his neck.
This scene makes people shudder, and it also makes people wonder: why is the snake still alive after soaking in wine for a year? How does it do it? Does it have any special physiological mechanism? This article will unravel this mystery for you from a scientific point of view.
1. What is snake wine?
Snake wine is a kind of health care wine that has been passed down by the folk for a long time, mainly by soaking live snakes or dried snakes in liquor, adding some Chinese medicinal materials, such as red dates, wolfberries, ginseng, etc., to let them ferment and mature. Snake wine has many benefits, such as relieving rheumatic diseases, boosting immunity, and slowing down aging.
The history of snake wine can be traced back to ancient times, when snakes were believed to be mysterious and powerful creatures whose blood and flesh contained magical powers to cure various diseases and ward off evil spirits. Therefore, people use snakes to make wine, thinking that they can absorb the essence and aura of snakes.
Different places and ethnic groups have different drinking methods and habits. Some people prefer to drink snake wine straight, while others prefer to eat snake meat with the guts.
Some people believe that snake wine should be drunk at a specific time and occasion, such as festivals, celebrations, sacrifices, etc., while others believe that snake wine should be drunk according to one's physical condition and needs, such as cold, injury, weakness, etc. In conclusion, drinking snake wine is a traditional custom that is loved and respected by many people.
2. Why can a serpent live in wine?
However, there are also certain risks associated with drinking snake wine, which, if not brewed properly or not stored properly, can cause the snake in the snake wine to come back to life and bite a person. This is because the snake does not really die in the wine, but instead enters a state similar to hibernation called "dormancy".
Dormancy is a physiological adaptation phenomenon that suspends or reduces vital activities under adverse conditions in order to conserve energy and water. During dormancy, the snake's heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, etc., will be reduced to a minimum, and it can even stop breathing. However, they do not lose their vital signs and can return to normal as soon as conditions improve.
So, how does a snake that has been soaked in wine for a year breathe? This brings us to an important factor: air. If the snake is completely immersed in high liquor, and the jar or bottle is sealed, then the snake will die due to lack of oxygen.
However, in many cases, this is not done. It may be that there is too little liquor or too low a concentration to cause the snake's head to not be completely submerged; It is possible that the jar or bottle is not airtight enough to allow air to flow in.
It may be because some Chinese herbs are added, so that the snake's head floats on it and comes into contact with the outside air. All of these conditions allow the snake to breathe some oxygen in the wine and maintain a minimum of life activity.
So, how does this oxygen get into the snake's body? We know that the respiratory organs of snakes are mainly the lungs, which inhale air through the mouth and nose, then transport it through the trachea to the lungs, and then through the blood circulation to carry oxygen throughout the body.
However, how can snakes that have been soaked in wine for a year still breathe when their mouths, noses, and tracheas are filled with liquor? This brings us to the snake's other respiratory organ: the skin. The skin of the snake is covered by layers of scales that protect the snake from the outside world and also prevent the loss of moisture.
However, these scales are not completely sealed, and there are tiny gaps between them that allow air to penetrate in. In this way, the snake can breathe through the skin to a certain extent. Of course, this type of breathing is not efficient and does not meet the needs of the snake's normal activity, but it is sufficient for a dormant snake.
3. Why do snakes come out and bite people?
When the snake has been dormant in the wine for a year, if the jar or bottle is opened, the snake will feel external stimuli, such as light, temperature, sound, etc. These stimuli will awaken the snake from its dormant state and return to normal physiological functions.
At the same time, since the jar or bottle is opened, there is a large influx of air, allowing the snake to get more oxygen, enhancing its vitality and aggression. As a result, the snake instinctively sprang out and bit the nearest target, the person who opened the jar or bottle.
In this case, the snake's poison is not diminished by soaking in wine, but may be exacerbated by the stimulation of alcohol. Therefore, people who are bitten by snakes are likely to die due to the effects of the toxin.
epilogue
Snake wine is a health wine with a long history and culture, but it is also a potentially dangerous drink. If you don't pay attention to the method of brewing and preservation, it can cause the snake in the snake wine to come back to life and bite the person. This is because the snake does not really die in the wine, but goes into a dormant state and can return to normal as soon as the condition improves.
So, before tasting snake wine, always make sure that the snake is completely dead and that the jar or bottle is well sealed. If you find that the snake still shows signs of life, do not open it or approach it easily to avoid misfortune. At the same time, you should also pay attention to drinking snake wine in moderation, and do not drink it in excess or on an empty stomach, so as not to cause harm to the body.