14 Poisonous Arthropods 



extract of Phormictopus proved very actively poisonous, that from a 

 single spider being sufficient to kill ten sparrows or twenty mice. It 

 manifested itself first and, above all, as a narcotic, slightly lowering 

 the temperature and paralyzing the respiration. Muscular and 

 cardiac weakening, loss of general sensibility, and the disappearance 

 of reflexes did not occur until near the end. The extract from Cteniza 

 was less active and, curiously enough, the comparative effect on 

 sparrows and on mice was just reversed. 



Spiders of the Genus Latrodectus. — ^While most of the popular 

 accounts of evil effects from the bites of spiders will not stand investi- 

 gation, it is a significant fact that, the world over, the best authentica- 

 ted records refer to a group of small and comparatively insignificant 

 spiders belonging to the genus Latrodectus, of the family Theridiidse. 

 The dread " Maknigniatte" of Corsica and South Europe, the " Kara- 

 kurte" of southeastern Russia, the "Katipo" of New Zealand, the 

 "Mena-vodi" and " Vancoho" of Madagascar, and our own Latrodectus 

 mactans, all belong to this genus, and concerning all of these the most 

 circumstantial accounts of their venomous nature are given. These 

 accounts are not mere fantastic stories by uneducated natives but in 

 many cases are reports from thoroughly trained medical men. 



The symptoms produced are general, rather than local. As 

 summarized by Kobert (igoi) from a study of twenty -two cases 

 treated in 1888, in the Kherson (Russia) Government Hospital and 

 Berislaw (Kherson) District Hospital the typical case, aside from 

 complications, exhibits the following sjrmptoms. The victim sud- 

 denly feels the bite, like the sting of a bee. Swelling of the barely 

 reddened spot seldom follows. The shooting pains, which quickly 

 set in, are not manifested at the point of injury but localized at the 

 joints of the lower limb and in the region of the hip. The severity 

 of the pain forces the victim to the hospital, in spite of the fact that 

 they otherwise have a great abhorrence of it. The patient is unable 

 to reach the hospital afoot, or, at least, not without help, for there is 

 usually inability to walk. The patient, even if he has ridden, reaches 

 the hospital covered with cold sweat and continues to perspire for a 

 considerable period. His expression indicates great suffering. The 

 respiration may be somewhat dyspnoeic, and a feeling of oppression 

 in the region of the heart is common. There is great aversion to 

 solid food, but increasing thirst for milk and tea. Retention of 

 urine, and constipation occur. Cathartics and, at night, strong 



