Why can't you cut off a snake's head when killing it?

There has long been a folk saying in our country that snakes should not be killed casually, that killing a snake will bring retribution, and that when killing a snake you especially must not cut off its head. Many people are curious about why you can't cut off a snake's head when killing it. Some say that after a snake's head is cut off, the head is still alive and can still bite people. Many people do not believe this claim. Below let us take a look together at why you can't cut off a snake's head when killing it!

Why can't you cut off a snake's head when killing it?

All the snake venom is concentrated in the snake's head. When the snake dies, its nerves do not die immediately and it can still be aggressive. Repeated experiments have confirmed that snakes have a vengeful mentality. When a person comes near, the snake's head can sense changes in the external temperature and thereby attack the person. The venom of a completely dead snake also remains potent for a very long time. If you accidentally touch it, it may cause sepsis, which is also why a snake's head must be burned after it is cut off.

Where does "hit a snake at its seven inches" refer to?

As the saying goes, "hit a snake at its seven inches," and some people say "hit a snake at its three inches." Although the sayings are not quite the same, the common point is that when hitting a snake you must strike its vital spot. If the vertebrae at the snake's "three inches" spot are injured and broken, it cannot raise its head to bite you, while the "seven inches" is where the snake's heart is located, and a fatal heavy injury there means certain death. In fact, "seven inches" refers to a general area, namely the snake's heart. The neck area behind the snake's head is only the snake's three inches; after being struck there, the snake will only be unconscious for a period of time, not truly dead.

Extension: Related reports

The British "Daily Mail" once reported such an incident: an accident occurred in Foshan, Guangdong, where a chef was preparing to make soup with cobra meat for guests, but was suddenly bitten by the cobra's head that he had cut off 20 minutes earlier, and the chef unfortunately died from the venom. Police in the case stated that the chef had a very strong reaction after being bitten by the snake's head and unfortunately died before he could even be sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.