BLACK WIDOW SPIDER — D" AMOUR ET AL. 419 



rigidity; except for the absence of local tenderness and the involve- 

 ment of other muscle groups, the pain resembles that experienced in 

 the case of a ruptured appendix or perforated peptic ulcer. Due to the 

 spasm of the thoracic muscles respiration is difficult. A rise in blood 

 pressure occurs, there is frequently nausea and vomiting, a slight 

 fever and leucocytosis. The general symptoms make their appear- 

 ance within 4 hours and may last for 2 to 3 days. In fatal cases 

 death occurs in from 18 to 36 hours. The observations are in general 

 agreement with those of Baerg (1922) and of Blair (1934), who per- 

 mitted spiders to bite them under controlled conditions. Relief from 

 pain seems to be difficult to obtain, relatively large doses of morphine 

 are without much effect; hot baths are very helpful. 



In the rat, administration of the venom is followed by paralytic 

 symptoms which are first evidenced by a peculiar stiffness of gait 

 and awkwardness in movement. The hind legs are first affected and 

 the animal walks with the rear elevated. One or both forelegs are 

 next affected and the animal sits in a hunched up position with the 

 forelegs bent and held close to the body. At this time the animal 

 refuses to move unless violently stimulated but can withdraw the 

 foot if the toes be pinched. As regards respiration, we noted a differ- 

 ence in behavior usually depending upon the size of the animal. In 

 immature rats the respiration becomes progressively more and more 

 shallow, the animal lies in a state of coma ; as death approaches, the 

 breathing becomes almost imperceptible. In older rats respiration 

 becomes extremely labored. The animal gasps violently for air but 

 is apparently unable to fill the lungs. This labored respiration con- 

 tinues until death occurs. Many rats were autopsied immediately 

 after death. In all cases the lungs collapsed when the thorax was 

 opened, indicating no constriction of the bronchioles, although, as 

 will be noted later, ephedrine appeared to give considerable relief. 

 The auricles were usually beating. There were no gross signs of 

 pathologic changes. 



One effect which was invariably produced was an irritation of the 

 lachrymal glands. The eyes watered profusely; they were usually 

 closed or nearly so. There was always an accumulation of bloody 

 serum around the nostrils, frequently in considerable amounts. This 

 happened even when there was no labored respiration. The animals 

 suffered from thirst and in the earlier stages made efforts to drink 

 but were apparently unable to swallow. 



DISCUSSION 



The questions we have been asked most frequently as the fact 

 of our investigation of the spider became known were these: 1. Are 

 the spiders increasing greatly in numbers? 2. Is the spider changing 



114728—39 28 



