364 ARACHNIDA—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 13-guttatus, the well-known “ Malmignatte,’ which 
is also considered extremely poisonous. The Royal Academy of 
Medicine and Surgery at Barcelona appointed Dr. Graells, in 
1833, to inquire into the effects of the bite 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. 
In his report ’ he details the symptoms in certain unquestionably 
authentic cases. There was a double 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 by 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. Lueas 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 case 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 
streneth 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 
1 Ann. Soc. ent. France, xi., 1842, p. 205. Translated from the Spanish by 
L. Fairmaire. 
