Katipo

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.

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.

MIND

• Delirium, half smothered by imperfect intoxication (third day), 4.

FACE

• Anxious expression of countenance (third day), 4.
• Countenance and general surface of the body assumed a hue of extreme pallor, which gradually turned a blue tint, 1.
• 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, 1.

STOMACH

• Lost all desire for food (after a fortnight); lingered in this way about six weeks, and then died, 2.

ABDOMEN

• Very severe drawing or crampy sensation in the abdomen (second morning), 4.

RESPIRATORY ORGANS

• Respirations almost ceased, 1.
• Almost pulseless; pulse usually slow, scarcely counting more than 12 or 14 beats in a minute, 1.

INFERIOR 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), 4. [10.]
• The foot felt as if it had been rudely lacerated by some dull instrument, waking him from sleep (immediately), 4.

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, 3.
• Nervous twitching all over his body, soon, 4.
• 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, 1.
• Faint, 1.
• Suddenly became faint and pallid (after a fortnight), 2.
• Large quantities of whisky produced but little impression, except a feeling, as he described it, as though the affected side was drunk (second day), 4.
• Severe pain, 2.

SKIN

• Small red spot resembling a fleabite, 4.
• 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, 1. [20.]
• 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, 2.
• 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 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, 4.
• The tendency of the swelling to extend up the limb ceased as soon as the escharotic began to act with energy, 4.
• 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, 4.
• A bright, scarlet, papular eruption appeared upon both lower extremities, which stung and burned like fire (fifth day), 4.

FEVER

• Extremities cold and flaccid, 1.
• A cold clammy perspiration covered the left lower extremity; in the morning the perspiration covered both lower limbs, 4.