THE KATIPO SPIDER

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12016, 19 December 1924, Page 5

THE KATIPO SPIDER

AT SEASIDE PLAGES TREATMENT OF KITES AND.DESCRIPTION OF SPIDER/ ONLY' USED IN DEFENCE. I ’• .' _ There has been some inquiry as to .a suitable method of dealing with bites from the Eatipo spider, the only vene--mous'insect or animal known m New Zealand; and which is said to he pre valent on some of the beaches in the -vicinity of Wellington. A HeSlth Department officer said the. Katipo was more prevalent in Wellington province than elsewhere in New Zealand, but -at the same time he thought its pre-. -valence on the beaches was somewhat -exaggerated. It wqs- as well that the public should know -something about -this dangerous spider, and how to treat -bites- from it. - <

NATIVE AND OTHER REMEDIES, j, - Strange to say the amount of litera(ture. or medical knowledge which has been- disseminated on the subject is very, small. Directly -a bite has been . received the blood should, be let out ’ aqd the wound sucked as thoroughly .ae; possible, and as ammonia is usually more quickly obtainable, .and is a very ;sound remedy, a strong solution of -his - preparation should the applied to . the part bitten. A timber merchant, said that in the :bush country .the men carry a small phial of ammonia with them for. that ipnfpose, arnfi it invariably, prevents and, further trouble if promptly , ap- - plied. ■,

N.Z. INSTITUTE’S EXPERjEENGE. :■!.. The records- of the New Zealand Inletitutte state that the natives have I ; several - modes of treating a subject 'recently, bitten, the most effectual one being to scarify the part, and to bathe the 'patient in-hot water. Another re.medy is to anoint, the part affected with Eokowai, or red ochre, which le’(duces the; swelling that follows tho ;bite, and alleviates the pain. If no •,-e-----meffisl -measures are adopted/ and - the Jbite ?is ’.neglected serious consequences /may ensue.' The common symptoms are an aching pain in the part bitten, . which soon becomes much swollen, and ‘inflamed, then a copious sweat and a ■ . feeHnjg of .intense languor and dtopresisionlaf/spirits. If not checked this is >'followed by a convulsive contractions'' - of the limbs, and the case then assumes . a dangerous phaee. In a case in. .'Auckland, where the patient developing alarming symptoms, spirits of ammonia were applied to the iwofl/nd.' which .had the effect of xe- ' duojlng the swelling and abating the -pain..-Ammonia and water; afterwards (combined with brandy, were 'adminisin ’considerable doses. /Under this /treatment the patient improved, ' ad iwas' |aibl© to return tome, but waa an'abld .-to’-work for several days; # SELDOM FATAL BUT DISTRESSING. . The report further says: The bite of ;the Katipo although . seldom fatal is (Veryiipiainfuli and stressing. . It ;only' exerts its,, dreaded power 'as a •means of defence ,or when .greatly irritated.:.:., ’(■#•: - The cocoon is spherical in shape, yel.dqwish white, and the eggs are 'the 'size of mustard seed, round, and of a , transparent r purplish - red. 1 They J are < together in the form of a s i The- Katipo* is mnch,the same/in' size Ifis the average spider one findt .about .(fauflebngs,and,in corners.- In. its secondstege the dorsal stripe ,on the ‘ book is bright red, .underparta.,-black with obseure' spot of red and - yellowish Frown 'legs.- At a more: advanced- age the stripe on tho back is brighter and is narrowly, bordered with yellow.

‘THE MEDICAL JOURNAL.”

• A’medioal gentleman' 1 writes in the above journal that applications of cafboljjjx arid, lysol, iodine, etc., ■ are unsatisfactory. -After t one experience he decided to treat the ,neixt like a snake bite-.; Ho then saw a Ei/fl half an hour after,- she hod been %tten. The spider wasj paiugiht and identified; The “bite” was indsed under local . anaesthesia, and strong permanganate aolution.rUbhed in. The.pain ceased iminornately, and.did not-recur: nor'ivas there any sweating. It is (evident' that it'is desirable to B6tji"£he (Piece, to bleed freely, , and if this oan be .done' with a needle or knife; sneked clean, ‘and either of the remedies mentioned* applied immediately, there should' be no fear of serious < consequences.