EFFECTS AND USES OF SPIDER POISON. 



271 



II. 



From the indications of anatomy we turn to tlie testimony of natural- 

 ists and other observers of the effects of spider venom. First in order of 

 value, for their extent and thoroughness, are the experiments of Mr. Black- 

 wall,^ an abstract of which I present. The experi- 

 menter induced a female Epeira diademata to bite him 

 on the inside of the left hand, near the base 

 ^ji^^T ^^*" tl'^ fo^^ finger. It continued to force its 

 "fangs deeper into the flesh, during a period 

 of many seconds, and at last quitted its hold volunta- 

 rily, when a little blood issued from the wound. Though * ^,,.,.=^ 

 the spider was in a state of great excitement from pre- \:==,J^ 

 vious irritation, Mr. Blackwall did not experience more 



' 1 • 1 p Fig. 246. The poison gland, 



inconvenience from its bite than from a puncture made duct, and fang of xeme- 

 near it at the same time with a fine needle. The ef- ^Jf cementaria. (After 



Blancnard.) 



fects of both injuries appeared to be very similar. 



Again, a highly exasperated female Diademata was allowed to seize 

 him on the inner side of the left fore arm near the carpus. It continued 

 for more than a minute to bury its fangs deeper into the flesh, 

 Effect of 2i\A, on quitting voluntarily, a little blood flowed from the wound- 

 ^peira ^^ part, near which a puncture was made simultaneously with 

 a fine needle. The effects of this and the preceding experiment 

 WTre alike. In both cases the air was- sultry and the temperature as high as 

 seventy-five degrees. These two wounds were inflicted in the month of July. 



In the latter part of August, a powerful 

 and much irritated female Epeira quadrata bit 

 Mr. Blackwall on the inner side of the left 

 fore arm near the carpus. It retained its hold 

 for the space of five minutes, occasionally forc- 

 ing its fangs deeper into the flesh, and, on quit- 

 ting it voluntarily, blood issued freely from the 

 punctures. The effects of this bite did not dif- 

 fer materially from those of a wound made at 

 the same time with a needle of average size, 

 the intensity and duration of pain being very 

 similar in both instances. 



During, the same month spiders of various 

 species were induced, under the influence of ex- 

 cited feelings, to seize a piece of clean window 

 and the opening in the fangs through glass witli their faugs, wlicu a transparent fluid, 



which the venom exudes. r-i i/; xi n x xi- 



which escaped from the small aperture near their 

 extremity, was deposited upon it. The ai)i)lication of thi.s fluid to the tongue 

 did not produce any sensible effect upon that organ. 



' Linn. Trans., Vol. XXI., pages 31-37. 



Fig. 247. The mandibles of Hentz's 

 Tarantula, x 2. (From nature.) 

 The bristles and teeth on the inte- 

 rior surface of the fang are shown. 



