Latrodectus katipo. *N.O. Arachnida. Tincture of living spider.
Clinical
Chorea. Faintness. Heart, slow. Nettle-rash. OEdema.
Characteristics
*Katipo is a venomous spider found in New Zealand and some parts of California. The symptoms recorded are the effects of bites. The seat of a bite becomes immediately painful and swelling occurs. In some cases the swelling does not come on until some days after the bite. In one case, five days after the bite, a scarlet papulous rash appeared on both extremities, burning like fire. Lassitude, faintness, twitchings, and in one case, trismus were noted. The symptoms were somewhat slow in evolution, and in a fatal case, that of a girl bitten on the abdomen, death did not occur until six weeks after the bite.
Relations
*Compare: Lat. mact., Tarent., Mygale., Aranea, Apis, Vespa, and serpent poisons.
Mind
Delirium half smothered by imperfect intoxication. Nervous depression.
Face
Anxious expression. Extreme pallor changing to blue tint, of face and body. Jaws stiff very soon, could not open mouth to eat, and could scarcely articulate.
Stomach
Lost all desire for food (after a fortnight), lingered six weeks and then died.
Abdomen
Very severe drawing or cramping sensation in abdomen.
Respiratory Organs
Respirations almost ceased.
Heart
Almost pulseless. Pulse slow, scarcely more than twelve or fourteen beats to the minute.
Lower Limbs
Severe shaking, burning pains ran from the bite on the foot up the limbs to back, accompanied by nervous twitching all over body soon, pain felt almost equally in both limbs, and seemed to center about heel. Feet felt as if rudely lacerated by dull instrument, waking him from sleep (immediately).
Generalities
Suffered long, wasting and losing all energy, some having appearance of one going into a decline, it was three months before he rallied and six before he recovered. Nervous twitching all over body. Suddenly became faint and pallid. Large quantities of whisky produced little impression, except a feeling as though affected side was drunk.
Skin
Small, red spot like flea-bite. Bitten surface raised, as large round as teacup, the raised part white with red halo, with pain, swelling and pain better by spirits of *Ammonia. Swelling size and shape of hen’s egg, pain better by ammonia, but not the swelling. The bite remained a small purple point for nine days, on the tenth began to swell and turn white like a bee sting, pain and swelling rapidly increased, dorsum of foot and ankle like a puff-ball, red streak running up leg. A bright scarlet, papular eruption on both lower limbs, which stung and burned like fire.
Fever
Extremities cold and flaccid. A cold, clammy sweat covered left lower extremity, in morning sweat covered both limbs.
