continued 



166 REVIEW — TKOPICAJi IMEDICINK, KTC. 



Scorpion Death above 15 years of age is said to be rare, but in 1907, at Omdurman, there were 



Sting— two fatal cases out of a total of eighty-eight occurring in persons above this age. 



Altogether 167 cases were treated in the Civil Hospital, of which eleven terminated 

 fatally. 



Wilson' is the author of a paper on the venom of Egyptian scorpions. The three 

 common species in Egypt are Buthiis quinquestriatits, Prionurus citriuus and Bnthus maurus, 

 a black scorpion. The paper is chiefly of a physiological nature and evidences much caieful 

 work. The chief symptoms in man are given [ride infra), and others more rarely seen — such 

 as hallucinations and mental disturbance, sometimes convulsions, weak pulse, rapid 

 respiration, etc. Local redness and swelling may be present, but often the local reaction 

 amounts to no more than would be caused by a mosquito bite. 



A list of animals immune to the venom are given, amongst which one notes a species of 

 gerbil and of jerboa. One tabulates here such of the general conclusions as are most likely 

 to be of value : — 



The venom is a clear, slightly viscid fluid of faiutly acid roactiou and high specific gravity. It contains from 

 20 to 28 per cent, of solids of which inorganic salts form a considei'al:)le part. Proteids in part coagulable by heat, 

 are present and probably form the most important organic constituent. The characters of the venom appear to 

 diflter in diiferent species. 



The active principle of the venom is apparently of a proteid nature. So far my investigations tend to show 

 that it is either a nucleo-albumiu, acid-albumin, or a primary albumose. 



The active principle is soluble in glycerin .and in saline solution; it is probably insoluble in pure water and is 

 insoluble in 85 per cent, alcohol. 



The active principle is unaffected by drying. When in solution it is very resistant to putrefaction, and is not 

 affected by heating to 100° C. for short periods, but is destroyed if the heating is continued for from 12 to 

 15 minutes. 



The minimum fatal dose of the toxin for the guinea pig is approximately 1 mg. per kilogramme. The toxic 

 value is, therefore, 10,000,000. 



The amount of toxin contained in the glands of different species of scorpion appears to differ. Of the three 

 species examined, most could be oljtained from Balhus quinqucslrialus, least from Prionurus citriuus; the former 

 is therefore to be regarded as the most venomous. 



The symptoms in animals are referable to the muscular and glandular tissues, consisting of muscular 

 spasms, copious secretions and apparent muscular paralysis. 



The muscular spasms are of peripheral origin and arc due to the direct exciting action of the poison 

 and to the increased effect of stimuli upon the contractile tissue. The paralysis is due to the threat depression in 

 the excitability of the muscles to direct and especially indirect excitation resulting from the fatigu ^ brought on by 

 the action of the poison. 



Death is mainly due to the inability of the respiratory muscles to respond to stimuli 

 reaching them from the central nervous system. There also appears to be a direct action on 

 the pulmonary tissues, the effect of the poison being possibly to produce spasm of the smooth 

 muscle of the bronchi and pulmonary blood-vessels. 



The effects of scorpion venom in man are comparable to those seen in the guinea pig, the 

 convulsive symptoms being, however, much less prominent. Local pain, vomiting, sweating 

 and salivation are the most marked symptoms. 



Death from scorpion sting is very rare in persons above the age of fifteen years, but 

 occasionally occurs in adults. 



Certain animals living under conditions which render them liable to the attack of 

 scorpions are immune to the venom. 



Nicolle and Catouillard-* experimented with the venom of Heterometrus maurus, a 

 common North African species, with a view to finding an antidote or a protective serum, but 

 their results were disappointing. I understand a more promising research is now proceeding 

 in Cairo. Antivenin, as is to be expected, has no protective action, as scorpion poison does 

 not seem to resemble any form of snake poison. Some persons, fakirs and others, have a 

 curious power of handling scorpions with impunity, although stung by them, so that there 

 must be some way of producing immunity. 



Simpson^ recommends a paste of ipecacuanha as a local application in cases of scorpion 

 sting. 



' Wilson, W. H. (1904), " On the Venom of Scorpions." Records of Egyptian Governnunt School of 

 MediciiK, Vol. II. 



"■ Nicolle, C, and Catouillard, G. (1905). C R. Soc. Biol, t. LVIII, 231-233. 

 ' Simpson, W. J. (1905), " Maintenance of Health in the Tropics." Loudon. 



• Article not consulted in the original. 



