Is it indeed an argument that "in reported cases the spider has seldom if ever been seen by a reliable observer to inflict the wound?" How an Orfila, a Christison, and a Caspar would smile when asked if the evidence of a poisonous quality depended upon the administration of the poison being "seen by a reliable observer." Toxicology detects a poison by the physiological test as well as the chemical. Strychnia in quantity too small for the coarse chemical test is revealed by the tetanized muscles of a frog whether that "arch martyr to science" be in "South Europe, the Southern United States, or New Zealand," and that infinitesimal fractions of Strychnia will display its characteristics whether or not its administration is "seen" by a Christison, or a college janitor. Of course, a Christison would recognize Strychnia from and in the phenomena, while a college janitor (and here and there an over-scientific entomologist) might not.
It is neither the aim nor the purpose of this paper to establish the lethal property of spider poison; though I must acknowledge that, until I read the paper in Insect Life, I had no thought that its possession of such a property would be called in question. I shall content myself with calling attention to the pathogenetic quality of the poison of Latrodectus mactans, leaving my reader to discern the resemblance of its tout ensemble to an attack of angina pectoris, and therefore to infer its homœopathic applicability in that dread disorder. I shall not enter upon the pathology—various and much confused—of that cardiac seizure, because, as I get older, I find the "like" more and more of a "pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night," whilst in my short life I have found "pathology" as changeable as a dying dolphin—and every one knows that a dead fish "stinks and shines, and shines and stinks."
Cases of Spider Bite.
BY G. WILLIAM SEMPLE, M. D., HAMPTON, VA.[J]
"Spider bites are of rare occurrence in this vicinity, but are generally productive of grave symptoms. [Isn't it bad taste for doctors to use the words grave symptoms?] I will report all that have occurred to me in a practice of forty years:
"Case I. September 4, 1853. I was called to see Mr. D., at Old Point, who had been bitten by a small, black spider on the prepuce, whilst on the privy seat, at 12:30 o'clock. The bite at first caused only itching of the prepuce, with a little redness of the part, but in less than half an hour nausea, followed by severe abdominal pains, ensued. A messenger was dispatched in haste for me to Hampton, three miles off. Before I reached the patient, at 2:30 o'clock, violent præcordial pains extending to the axilla, and down the [left] arm and forearm to the fingers, with numbness of the extremity, had succeeded, attended by apnæa.
"In consequence of the violence of the symptoms, Dr. Stineca, surgeon of the post, had been sent for, who had given two doses of Laudanum of ʒj each, and two of rectified whiskey of ǯij each, and, being in ill health and unable to remain, had ordered his steward to apply four dry cups over the præcordia. This had just been done when I arrived. I saw the blood, thin and florid, fill the cups like water oozing through the muslin. When the cups were removed, the blood, emptied into a basin, did not coagulate; and blood continued to ooze slightly from the surfaces to which the cups had been applied until the next morning, though a solution of Tannin was applied.
"I found the patient suffering extremely from the most violent præcordial pains and from apnæa, and also violent pain in the left arm, which was almost paralyzed. His pulse was 130 and very feeble, his skin cold as marble, and his countenance expressive of the deep anxiety he felt and expressed in words. The laudanum and whiskey seemed to have produced no effect—the nausea and abdominal pains having subsided before they were administered. There was no pain, inflammation, or swelling where the bite was received. Even the itching of the part had subsided. I gave the patient every half hour for several hours ʒj of aromatic spirits of ammonia, and as much whiskey and water as he could be induced to take, and afterwards gave them every hour; also pediluvia of hot mustard and water, frequently repeated, until the next night.
"September 5th, 8 a.m.—The symptoms continued unabated; indeed, the patient grew worse until 2:30 o'clock, twenty-six hours after he was bitten, for his pulse had then become so frequent that it could not be counted, and so feeble that it could scarcely be felt. He then vomited black vomit copiously—a quart or more. Soon afterwards reaction set in, his pulse gradually gained force, and became less frequent, the pain subsided and the respiration improved. At 8 p.m., the pulse had gained considerable force, and the patient slept until some minutes after 12; his pulse was pretty full at 1:10; his surface warm and perspirable, and he felt almost free of pain. After a short interval he again fell asleep, and slept quietly until morning, when he awoke—his respiration healthy, pulse 80, regular and with sufficient force, and entirely relieved of pain. He soon afterwards had two pretty copious evacuations from the bowels, similar to the black vomit he had vomited. After this he said he felt quite well, and took a light breakfast and dinner, and returned that evening to his residence in Portsmouth, and in a few days went to work at his trade.