274 



AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



Fit;. 250. Latrodectus mactans, adult 

 female. Twice natural size.* 



liis legs, causing the veins to swell very mucli. We applied Uirnip poul- 

 tice to the wound, and when tliis was taken oif a (juantity of black Huid 



came from the sore. During the afternoon the 

 pain in the legs and big toes still continued. 

 Dr. Mohnbeer prescribed a liniment, which, after 

 rubbing well into the legs, caused a black, inky 

 colored fluid to emit itself through the pores of 

 the skin in large drops, from which time my 

 son began to improve, and has continued im- 

 proving ever since, but suffers much from weak- 

 ness. From tlie time he was bitten on Mon- 

 day till the Friday following he lost exactly 

 twelve pounds in flesh. I forgot to state that 

 when he was first bitten I gave him small 

 doses of brandy, at intervals during the first 

 two days, which seemed to have the effect of 

 greatly relieving the pain. 



" I am informed by Te Hemera, native chief 

 here, and also by 

 other natives, that 

 many fatal cases among their ranks have taken 

 place by the bite of the katipo ; they also be- 

 lieve the sufferer is sure to die if they cannot 

 find the spider ; Init, on tlie contrary, if they find 

 it and burn it in tlie fire, the patient gets well in 

 three days. If they cannot find the insect, they 

 set fire to the house and burn buildings, effects, 

 and everj'thing else. In this case the spider was 

 found, and Dr. Mohnbeer has it pre- 

 „ . served in spirits in his surgery. I 



write this to caution persons to look 

 well to their bedclothes before retiring to rest, 

 as I have witnessed persons suffering from the 

 bite of snakes and other reptiles in Australia, 

 but never saw any one in such agony as my son 

 during the time the poi.son was taking effect." 



Notwithstanding this very clear and appar- 

 ently trustworthy account and the examples 

 which follow, M. Lucas, a well known natural- 

 ist, gives a testimony which is exactly the re- 

 verse concerning the venomous effects of the 



Fig. 251. Latrodectus mactans, male. 

 Twice natural size. 



' For this cut and the two next following I am indebted to the courtesy of the Secre- 

 tary of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



