The True Scorpions 
21 
2. Cells present in considerable numbers, the peripheral por¬ 
tions of which are filled with very numerous fine granules, staining 
with acid dyes such as methyl orange. 
3. Cells few in number, filled with very large granules, or ir¬ 
regular masses of a substance staining with hasmatoxylin. 
The poison, according to Robert (1893), is a limpid, acid-reacting 
fluid, soluble in water but insoluble in absolute alcohol and ether. 
There are few data relative to its chemical nature. Wilson (1901) 
states that a common Egyptian species, Buthus quinquestriatus, has 
a specific gravity of 1.092, and contains 20.3% of solids and 8.4% ash. 
The venom of different species appears to differ not only quantita¬ 
tively but qualitatively. The effects of the bite of the smaller species 
of the Southern United States may be painful but there is no satis¬ 
factory evidence that it is ever fatal. On the other hand, certain 
tropical species are exceedingly virulent and cases of death of man 
from the bite are common. 
In the case of Buthus quinquestriatus, Wilson (1904) found the 
symptoms in animals to be hypersecretion, salivation and lachryma- 
tion, especially marked, convulsions followed by prolonged mus¬ 
cular spasm; death from asphyxia. The temperature shows a 
slight, rarely considerable, rise. Rapid and considerable increase 
of blood-pressure (observed in dogs) is followed by a gradual fall with 
slowing of the heart-beat. The coagulability of the blood is not 
affected. 
An interesting phase of Wilson’s work was the experiments on 
desert mammals. The condition under which these animals exist 
must frequently bring them in contact with scorpions, and he found 
that they possess a degree of immunity to the venom sufficient at 
least to protect them from the fatal effects of the sting. 
As far as concerns its effect on man, Wilson found that much 
depended upon the age. As high as 60 per cent of the cases of 
children under five, resulted fatally. Caroroz (1865), states that in a 
Mexican state of 15,000 inhabitants, the scorpions were so abundant 
and so much feared that the authorities offered a bounty for their 
destruction. A result was a large number of fatalities, over two 
hundred per year. Most of the victims were children who had 
attempted to collect the scorpions. 
The treatment usually employed in the case of bites by the more 
poisonous forms is similar to that for the bite of venomous snakes. 
First, a tight ligature is applied above the wound so as to stop the 
