488 



obituary. 



February 7. 



Au inquest was held to-day as to the cause of the death of Malcohu Fraser, an ex- 

 pressman, who, it was alleged, succumbed to the bite of a katipo spider. Dr. Ewart, 

 medical superintendent at the hospital, who made a post-mortem examination, said 

 in his own opinion death was due to the bite of thespider, the man being in a bad state 

 of health at the time. The active cause of death was erysipelas, but that, in his 

 opinion, was brought about by the bite. 



In answer to a juror whether it was blood-poisoning and if the man's blood had 

 not been out of order from the effects of drink, the witness said he did not think the 

 poison of the bite would have been fatal. 



The jury returned a verdict "That death was due to erysipelas, as a consequence 

 of the bite of a katipo spider." 



William Maskell, Registrar of the New Zealand University, said that he had some 

 knowledge of katipo spiders. It belonged to a genus of which there were examples in 

 many countries. There were similar spiders in America, Australia, southern Europe, 

 northern Africa, aud probably China, India, and Madagascar. In these countries 

 there was a i)revailing impression that this kind of spider was poisonous. Among 

 scientific men who had studied spiders there had been doubt until recently whether 

 spiders of this genus (Latrodectits) were really dangerous, but from a series of com- 

 munications from various parts of the world which had lately appeared in an Ameri- 

 can publication called Insect Life, published by the United States Government, it 

 seemed as if it was fairly settled that the genus was venomous. It seemed probable 

 that conditions of climate might have an effect, and that in hot climates or warm 

 weather the poison might be more powerful. With regard to the New Zealand 

 katipo spider, he had known of one previous case of poisoning and had heard of 

 others. Mr. Maskell produced a list of cases prepared by Mr. R. Allan Wight, a resi- 

 dent of Auckland, the general effect of which was to show that the bite was not fatal 

 to adult healthy persons, but in all cases there was very great pain, with severe de- 

 pression and spasms. The witness next described the spider, and stated that it was 

 found almost exclusively near the seashore, principally where there were sand hills. 

 It was very common near the seashore in the vicinity of Wellington. 



[Dr. Ewart' s letter.] 



Wellington, February 19, 1891. 



Dear Sir: I answer your que stions concerning the death of Malcom Fraser with 

 the greatest pleasure. 



He was admitted into the hospital on the morning of the 29th of January, and 

 died on the 5th of February. At this time the right arm, from the hand up to the 

 middle of the upper arm, was very much swollen and of a dusky-red hue, owiug to 

 erysipelas. At the point where he was said to have been bitten, there was a spot 

 about the size of au ordinary flea bite on which the skin had a darker hue than the 

 surrounding parts. He was perfectly sensible, but there was great depression of the 

 vital powers. His wife informed me that he had been delirious during the previous 

 night. Towards evening of the day of admission he again became delirious and 

 never again recovered complete consciousness. From what the man himself told 

 me and from the evidence given by his wife at the inquest, I think there is not the 

 slightest doubt he was bitten by the spider in question. He seems to have been 

 well acquainted with it, and stated most positively that he was bitten by the spider. 

 He described it as a small spider, with a red gold- colored cross on its back. I can 

 not say whether he was heated at the time or not. I imagine he was not, seeing 

 that at the time he was bitten he was lying on the Hutt Racecourse. He had been 

 attending the races, aud the accident happened after the races were over. I can 

 not tell you at what hour this happened, but it must have been late in the afternoon. 

 He arrived here about 10 p. m., I think his wife said. He then told her he had been 

 bitten by a katipo. 



