THE VENOMS. 97 



sting consisting of two sharp needles communicat- 

 ing with two poison-bearing glands, and forming a 

 flexible tube. One of these glands secretes an acid 

 liquid (formic acid) ; the other secretes an alkaline 

 fluid. 



The action of the bee-poison is very often benign, 

 but there have been cases where death followed 

 the infliction of numerous stings. 



Our information regarding the poison of the 

 cantharides and flies is very vague * ; the same 

 is true of the poisons of various arachnids, acarides, 

 and myriapoda. So far as spiders are concerned, 

 it is known that their poison is an oily liquid having 

 an acid and bitter taste, and containing a toxalbu- 

 min derived from the skin of the insect. The- 

 bite of the ordinary spider occasions simply a 

 slight local pain, with redness; that of the large 

 poisonous spider, however, may kill the larger 

 animals, and even man. 



Poison of Scorpions.-) -This poison is a colorless, 

 acid liquid, having a higher specific gravity than 

 water, in which liquid it is soluble. The famed 

 legend of the suicide of scorpions is well known to 

 all. It is stated that when the insect finds itself 

 in a position where its death is inevitable, it stings 

 itself, and dies from the effects of its own poison. 



* JOYEUX-LAFFRIE: These de doctoral en Medecine, Paris, 

 1883; P. BERT: Compt. rend, de la Soc. de Biol., u [4], p. 136. 

 t CALMETTE: Annales de V Instil. Pasteur, x, p. 232. 



