Bitten by Katipo.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 15 August 1890, Page 2

Bitten by Katipo.

Wi'liam Green, aged 28, the son of Mr Green, enrpenter of Kau>ipuni, lias had a terrible experience from the bite of a katipo, or poisonous «pid«r. He was rabbiting at Kir«ra« dala on the East Coast, and on "Wednesday night was si eping on the beach with a companion under & tent erected within a large hut. Before going to sleep, they had gathered firewood on the shore, and placed it under «over a few feet from the tent. The decayed timber is the favorite haunt for| the Kalipo. About 2 a. in Green was aroused by somet 1 ing prickiug- his arm just above the elbow. It seemed like the sting of a bee. Striking a match, h» nofc : ced a poisonous spider orawl # ing over the folds of the blankets. The Katipo was dispatched with the bottom of the match box. Grten's companion wanted to suck the wound, but it was hardly perceptible, and the young mail thought this wou'd be useless. As the pain incieahpd. he got up, dressed and reached Riversdale station an h^nr later. Mr Meredith applied whiskey and other remedies, and in the morn* ing Green hastened into M^sterlon. In the mpantime his arm had swollen »nd his body was affected. On reaching home Dr Beard whs cal'ed in, and by active remedies endeavoured to a lay the sufferings of his patient, who has pas-«d through an ordeal he will never f >rge\ The effect of the poison has been to produce mnscn'ar pains all over his b dy even to his legs rirailing rheumatis fever He has been seized wi h fits of shivering followed with an ou' break of clammy perspiration, and his clothes have had to be changed repeatedly being wringing wet It is belie ed that he will slow'y legain convalescence, but on Saturday night hia parenti informed us 'hat his sufferings wer« still almost indescribable.