INSECT POISONS 15:^ 



that spiders without liciiiolNsius poison flics oxactly as those with 

 hemolysins. 



Von Fiirth considers that the bite of the historically famous Italian 

 tarantula is able to cause no more than local inflammation, and Ko- 

 l)ert found that the entire extract of six Russian tarantulas (which 

 are supposed to be more poisonous than the Italian) caused no symp- 

 toms when injected into a cat. An antitoxin is said to have been 

 secured against the Russian tarantula.^-'" 



In all probal)ility the other poisonous spiders possess toxic sub- 

 stances allied to those of the venoms, with hemolytic, agglutinative, 

 and neurotoxic products, Sachs' studies indicating the general sim- 

 ilarity of all tlie zootoxins. 



Centipedes 



Undoubtedh' the severity of centipede poisoning has been greatly 

 exaggerated, the results being usually limited to local inflammation, 

 frequently spreading some distance in an erysipelas-like manner. 

 An authentic case of fatal poisoning of a child four years old by a 

 centipede (Scolopendra heros) has been reported from Texas by G. 

 Linceicum,*^ death resulting five to six hours after the bite was re- 

 ceived. Besides the local pain and inflammation, vomiting w^as 

 marked, occurring also in five other non-fatal cases. 



Centipedes secrete their poison in relatively large glands, which 

 discharge at the apices of a pair of specialized claws that take the 

 place of the first pair of legs. The nature of this poison seems not 

 to have been investigated. Numerous chemical substances are de- 

 scribed as secreted bj' other glands of these animals, including prus- 

 sic acid and a camphor-like matter (see v. Fiirth). 



Bee Poison 



Bee poison has been better studied than mcst insect poisons, begin- 

 ning with the work of Paul Bert (1865). It is secreted by the glands 

 into a small poison sac, and stored up until ejected. Cloez found 

 that bee poison was precipitated by ammonia, tannin, and platinic 

 chloride, and Langer proved it to be a non-volatile organic base. As 

 excreted, it is acid, contains 30 per cent, of solids, and one honey-bee 

 secretes 0.0003-0.0004 gm. It contains formic acid and much pro- 

 tein, but it has been stated that the poison is protein-free, and is not 

 destroyed by heat (100°), weak acids, or alkalies. On the other hand, 

 it is said to be destroj-ed by proteolytic enz3'mes, which would indicate 

 that it is of protein nature. Arthus**- believes the evidence indicates 

 that the bee venom is a proteotoxin. How^ever, there are many 

 points of resemblance between the effects of insect stings and the local 



«"« Konstanzoff, Russky Wratsch., 1907, Xo. 17. 

 " .\mer. Jour. Med. Sci., 1866 (52), 575. 

 82 Jour. Pharm. Chim., 1919 (20), 41. 



