Just Stumbled Upon (http://www.stumbleupon.com/home)this.

From Rocket News 24 (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/09/12/snake-being-pickled-to-create-healing-liquor-awakens-after-3-months-and-bites-woman/)
Snake being pickled to create healing liquor awakens after 3 months
and bites woman

Shejiu is a traditional type of liquor that is made by pickling a venomous snake in a
bottle of alcohol such as baijiu. The venom of the snake is neutralized by the liquor
and, thanks to the essences of the serpent, is said to have energizing and healing
properties.

... The Harbin City woman was suffering from joint pain during changes of weather
and concocted the shejiu on the advice of a friend. After pickling a viper in some
baijiu, she would pour a small shot of snake wine out of a spigot in the bottom of
the bottle whenever her pain flared up.

When the bottle ran dry the woman opened the top to pour in more alcohol. As she
did so the snake suddenly started breathing and wriggling, and sprung out of
the bottle. The viper bit the woman on her finger as she tried to swat it away.
Hearing the commotion, the rest of the woman’s family rushed to help and took her
to the hospital. “Before the shejiu could have any effect on me I was sent to the
hospital for a snake bite,” the woman said, looking down at her bandaged hand.

Surprisingly, incidents such as these are not all that rare.

Prunie Ed. WHAT?

By lowering their metabolism and heart-rate, snakes are able to enter a state of
hibernation. This particular snake, it would seem, was able to remain alive for so
long since the container in which it was being pickled was not completely airtight.