"Do not directly handle the dead snake..."

"...instead, carry it to the medical facility on a stick or in a bag."

This quote, from the book Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America by Dirk G. Schroeder, made me laugh out loud with such gusto this afternoon that the cats - eye - glasses - and - beehive - hairdo - sporting matron at our neighborhood's branch of the Berkeley Public Library had to come over and shush me in person. It is advice for what to do when seeking medical treatment in the devloping world for snakebite...because you see, if you don't take the snake with you to the clinic the medical professionals won't have any way to know how to treat you most effectively.

And, I am going to a part of the world where this is not at all laughable but is actually pertinent information for maintaining one's health.

Sweet Jesus, protect me.