SPIDER BITE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1930, Page 8

SPIDER BITE

CAUSES WOMAN’S DEATH. A SYDNEY DANGER. ■SYDNEY, January 10. Since 1926, there have been five deaths in Sydney as the result of bites from the particularly ferocious black, or trap-door spider, the latest victim being Mrs Ellen Maud Bryant, who died eight, hours after she had been attacked. Mrs Bryant was given immediate medical attention, but she. never rallied. Mrs Bryant was getting dressed in the bedroom at her home when she stooped down to pick up a slipper. As she did so she placed part of her hand in the: slipper and touched the deadly insect. It retaliated and bit her on the forefinger, causing her to swoon almost immediately. She fell upon the bed as her daughter rushed into the room in response to her cries. She was hurried to hospital, and died the same afternoon.

There are several varieties of trapdoor spider in Australia., but only two of them are dangerous to man. One of these varieties is deadly, and thq other Will cause death if no attention is given to the patient immediately after an attack. The victims within the last four years include Air A. F 3. Cresswell, Government analyst, of Victoria, who died fourteen days after he had been bitten. A Sydney woman in 1926 died within a month, and the most remarkable case was that of a little girl, who died within 90 minutes of having been bitten.

The females of the species is known w) be particularly ferocious. There is a case on record where it was discovered that a female had killed six males and had wounded a seventh. If these spiders '• are disturbed they will make it their business to bite, so they are best left alone. In most eases, the trap-door spiders have been found in Sydney suburban gardens and out-honses, hut they have been known to enter private dwelling houses, as was the case when Mrs Bryant was attacked. The spiders have been particularly numerous lately, particularly in the suburbs on the North Shore line. There have been several cases where boys have been bitten by the feared red backs, but in all cases they have recovered after being seriously ill for some time. Persons who are bitten by spiders, even if they recover, suffer weeks of agony while the poison remains in their system.