364 ARACHNID A ARANEAE chap. 



of whisky were administered without any intoxicating effect, and 

 this afforded some relief from the constantly-recurring spasms. 

 The paroxysms continued for three weeks, and two months elapsed 

 before he was able to resume work. On the ankle where he was 

 bitten pimples appeared as in the previous case, and these broke 

 out again, long after the occurrence, whenever he became over- 

 heated in his work. 



These accounts are sufficiently circumstantial and well authen- 

 ticated, but the fact of the actual bite depends upon the state- 

 ment of the victims alone, and they may possibly have mistaken 

 the cause of their trouble. 



Southern Europe possesses a congener of this spider in 

 Latrodectus IS-giittatus, the well-known " Malmignatte," which 

 is also considered extremely poisonous. The Eoyal Academy of 

 Medicine and Surgery at Barcelona appointed Dr. Graells, in 

 1833, to inquire into the effects of the 1)ite of this spider, cases 

 of which had become exceedingly frequent. He found a curious 

 correspondence between the frequency of these cases and the 

 advent of migratory locusts, which the spider successfully attacked. 

 *[n liis report ^ he details the symptoms in certain unquestionably 

 authentic cases. There was a douljle puncture, surrounded by 

 red circles, the region of the wound afterwards swelling greatly. 

 The pain and swelling extended over the whole limb, and often to 

 the body, and convulsions occurred, followed hj great prostration 

 and collapse. All the patients eventually recovered, their cure 

 being heralded by profuse perspiration. 



It must be mentioned, however, that the eminent Arachnologist 

 M. Lucas states that he has several times allowed himself to be 

 bitten by this identical spider without any ill effects. 



The testimony is thus conflicting in this ca§e also. It is 

 impossible, however, to believe that there is no basis in fact for 

 the poisonous reputation of a comparatively insignificant-looking 

 spider in so many widely- separated parts of the world, supported 

 as it is by certain well-substantiated cases. The variable effects 

 of its bite may find a partial explanation in a variation in the 

 strength of its venom at different seasons, and it has already been 

 mentioned that the injection of poison into its victim is a voluntary 

 act, and does not necessarily accompany its bite. Among the 



' Ann. Soc. cut. France, xi., 1842, p. 205. Translated from the Spanish by 

 L. Fairmaire. 



