135 



summer, because at that season the okl women are constantly engaged 

 picking off the larvne of the Biud-weed Hawk-moth [Sphinx eonvolvuU). 

 Removed from the shore the Katipo seems even more venomous than in 

 its native habitat, and the Maories will burn down a house and all that 

 is in it where a person has been bitten, if they do not find the spider, 

 sooner than let it escape, because they think that upon this depends the 

 recovery of the sufferer. As for the " thin web," the spiders on the 

 beach weave the same web, and even those packed by me for Washing- 

 ton had done so before the box as fastened down and they were capt- 

 ured on the sea-shore. 



The poison is generally treated as a narcotic, with stimu.anis, but it 

 seems peculiar that no one ever seems to press a ring over the fresh- 

 made wouud to keep the poison from spreading. To give some idea of 

 the effects and nature of the poison, I will condense a few cases out of 

 a great many kindly sent to me, for some of the best of which I have 

 to thank Mr. Urquhart, and, to save repetition, I may as well say that 

 I select only those upon reliable evidence, and where the sufferer was 

 in good health and condition at the time, also "^here the Katipo was 

 recognized. 



3Ir. Ki7ig, of Waimate: Bitten in the leg; violent pain; considerable 

 swelling and inflammation; treatment, hot vinegar; lasted three hours; 

 imputes cure to having been driven into great and sudden excitement 

 from other causes. 



The Rev. Mr. Matheivs: Bitten on the shoulder; great pain; punct- 

 ured wound ; slight swelling ; inflamed 3 inches around : had to walk 

 sharply for 20 miles ; dull, heavy pain for three days. 



Archdeacon Clarke and party : Bitten by a brood of very young Kati- 

 I)oes ; great irritation for some hours. 



Captain Burleigh: Twice bitten, arm and shoulder* great irritation 

 and rash on necJc and head for some hours. 



Dr. Shortland, one of our oldest and most esteemed settlers, gives 

 cases as far back as 1842, from which I select. 



Particularly powerful, healthy young man, bitten on the leg, brought 

 in dying condition ; wound like that of a large flea; intense pains all 

 over the body for twelve hours, then violent pains in the soles of the feet ; 

 in violent perspiration all the time ; all the body covered with a rash 

 like the measles ; skin all came off; ammonia injected into the wound ; 

 large dose of brandy ; duration of illness not given. 



Another case : Wound " like the bite of a sand-fly," intense cold and 

 shivering for three days ; great difficulty in keeping up the pulse ; vio- 

 lent " pins and needles " all over the body ; profuse perspiration ; 

 swelling not great; violent pains lasted a week; weak and depressed 

 for " a long time after." 



Case of a Maori woman bitten on the thigh whilst tending Kuniera 

 beds: No better means being at hand sweet oil used and recovered in 

 three days ; at first seemed to be dying. 



