14 
Poisonous Arthropods 
extract of Phormictopus proved very actively poisonous, that from a 
single spider being sufficient to kill ten sparrows or twenty-mice. It 
manifested itself first and, above all, as a narcotic, slightly lowering 
the temperature and paralyzing the respiration. Muscular and 
cardiac weakening, loss of general sensibility, and the disappearance 
of reflexes did not occur until near the end. The extract from Cteniza 
was less active and, curiously enough, the comparative effect on 
sparrows and on mice was just reversed. 
Spiders of the Genus Latrodectus. —While most of the popular 
accounts of evil effects from the bites of spiders will not stand investi¬ 
gation, it is a significant fact that, the world over, the best authentica¬ 
ted records refer to a group of small and comparatively insignificant 
spiders belonging to the genus Latrodectus, of the family Theridiidae. 
The dread “ Malmigniatte” of Corsica and South Europe, the “Kara- 
kurte” of southeastern Russia, the “Katipo” of New Zealand the 
“Mena-vodi” and “ Vaneoho” of Madagascar, hnd our own Latrodectus 
mactans, all belong to this genus, and concerning all of these the most 
circumstantial accounts of their venomous nature are given. These 
accounts are not mere fantastic stories by uneducated natives but in 
many cases are reports from thoroughly trained medical men. 
The symptoms produced are general, rather than local. As 
summarized by Robert (1901) from a study of twenty-two cases 
treated in 1888, in the Kherson (Russia) Government Hospital and 
Berislaw (Kherson) District Hospital the typical case, aside from 
complications, exhibits the following symptoms. The victim sud¬ 
denly feels the bite, like the sting of a bee. Swelling of the barely 
reddened spot seldom follows. The shooting pains, which quickly 
set in, are not manifested at the point of injury but localized at the 
joints of the lower limb and in the region of the hip. The severity 
of the pain forces the victim to the hospital, in spite of the fact that 
they otherwise have a great abhorrence of it. The patient is unable 
to reach the hospital afoot, or, at least, not without help, for there is 
usually inability to walk. The patient, even if he has ridden, reaches 
the hospital covered with cold sweat and continues to perspire for a 
considerable period. His expression indicates great suffering. The 
respiration may be somewhat dyspnoeic, and a feeling of oppression 
in the region of the heart is common. There is great aversion to 
solid food, but increasing thirst for milk and tea. Retention of 
urine, and constipation occur. Cathartics and, at night, strong 
