22 



Poisonous Arthropods 



flow of blood and lymph from that region. The wound is then 

 freely excised and treated with a strong solution of permanganate 

 of potash, or with lead and opium lotion. 



In recent years there have been many attempts to prepare an 

 antivenom, or antiserum comparable to what has been used so 

 effectively in the case of snake bites. The most promising of these 

 is that of Todd (1909), produced by the immunization of suitable 

 animals. This antivenom proved capable of neutralizing the venom 

 when mixed in vitro and also acts both prophylactically and cura- 

 tively in animals. Employed curatively in man, it appears to have 

 a very marked effect on the intense pain following the sting, and 

 the evidence so far indicates that its prompt use greatly reduces 

 the chance of fatal results. 



THE SOLPUGIDA, OR SOLPUGIDS 



The Solpugida are peculiar spider-like forms which are distin- 

 guished from nearly all other 

 arachnids by the fact that 

 they possess no true cephalo- 

 thorax, the last two leg-bear- 

 ing segments being distinct, 

 resembling those of the abdo- 

 men in this respect. The 

 first pair of legs is not used 

 in locomotion but seemingly 

 functions as a second pair of 

 pedipalpi. Figure 12 illus- 

 trates the striking peculiari- 

 ties of the group. They are 

 primarily desert forms and 

 occur in the warm zones of 

 all countries. Of the two 

 hundred or more species, 

 Comstock lists twelve as 

 occurring in our fauna. 

 These occur primarily in the 

 southwest. 



The Solpugida have long 

 borne a bad reputation and [regarding virulence, have been classed 

 with the scorpions. Among the effects of their bites have been 



12. A solpugid (Eremobates cinerea). 

 stock. 



After Com- 



