Katipo

▲   GENERAL

General

Latrodectus Kapito (Trans. New Zealand Inst., 1870, vol. 3, p. 56).

Natural order, Arachnida.

Native name (New Zealand), Katipo; the venomous spider of New Zealand and parts of California.

The point that was bitten, which up to this time remained a small purple point, began on the tenth day to swell, turned white like the swelling which follows the sting of a wasp or bee.

the swelling was so painful and so rapid that within three hours the write spot was nearly as large as a twenty-five cent Argentum Metallicum ^silver coin, the whole dorsum of the foot and ankle became very much swollen, the foot was like a puffball, and a red streak was observed running up the leg,.

In about three days the eschar sloughed, but in removing it, which was covered by adhesive plaster, fully a teaspoonful of straw-colored fluid escaped.

in less than five minutes the cavity filled again with the same kind of fluid.

the discharge being continued the wound was dressed with bread-and-milk poultices, with readily absorbed it.

the swelling diminished rapidly and all symptoms improved, so that in about ten days he was able to go his office.

the wound did not fully heal, but was covered over by a dark-red-film.

I opened it two months after he was bitten, when several drops of reddish fluid escaped,.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS.

He suffered long, wasting and losing all energy, soon having the appearance of one going into a decline; if I recollect correctly it was three months before he rallied, and probably another three before he recovered,

Nervous twitching all over his body, soon,

Could not return to his work for several days, but complained of great lassitude and nervous depression, which he was sensible of for many days after,

Faint,

Suddenly became faint and pallid (after a fortnight),

Large quantities of whisky produced but little impression, except a feeling, as he described it, as though the affected side was drunk (second day),

Severe pain,

▲   MIND

Mind

Delirium, half smothered by imperfect intoxication (third day),

▲   FACE

Face

Anxious expression of countenance (third day),

Countenance and general surface of the body assumed a hue of extreme pallor, which gradually turned a blue tint,

On attempting to eat found he could not open his mouth, nor was scarcely able to articulate, in consequence of stiffness about the jaws, very soon; it was difficult to understand what he had to say,

▲   CHEST

Respiration

Respirations almost ceased,

Almost pulseless; pulse usually slow, scarcely counting more than 12 or 14 beats in a minute,

▲   SKIN

Skin

Small red spot resembling a fleabite,

Bitten surface raised to an extent as large round as a teacup; this elevated surface was white, and was surrounded by a halo of red, not unlike an exaggerated wheal of the nettlerash; he complained of considerable pain in the bitten part; swelling and pain relieved by spirits of ammonia,

Swelling, of the size and shape of the obtuse end of a hen's egg; strong ammonia lessened the pain, but failed to decrease the swelling,

The tendency of the swelling to extend up the limb ceased as soon as the escharotic began to act with energy,

A bright, scarlet, papular eruption appeared upon both lower extremities, which stung and burned like fire (fifth day),

▲   ABDOMEN

Abdomen

Very severe drawing or crampy sensation in the abdomen (second morning),

Eating

Lost all desire for food (after a fortnight); lingered in this way about six weeks, and then died,

▲   EXTREMITIES, LIMBS

Lower extremities

Severe shooting-burning pains ran from the bite on the foot up the limb to the back, accompanied by nervous twitching all over his body (soon); the pain was felt almost equally in both limbs, and seemed to centre about the heel, before evening (second day),

The foot felt as if it had been rudely lacerated by some dull instrument, waking him from sleep (immediately),

▲   FEVER AND CHILL

Fever

Extremities cold and flaccid,

A cold clammy perspiration covered the left lower extremity; in the morning the perspiration covered both lower limbs,

▲   APPENDIX

Authorities

1, Dr. Wright, Med. Times and Gaz., 1870, p. 570, effects in a man bitten on the shoulder; 2, Rev. Mr. Chapman, case of a girl bitten on abdomen (from the last); 3, same, a boy was bitten in the fleshy part of the thigh; 4, Dr. E. J. Fraser, Med. Invest., 10, p. 667, effects in a man bitten on the dorsum of the left foot.

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