THE KATIPO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2368, 15 December 1921, Page 1

THE KATIPO.

IDS BITE AND THE CTHIE,

Ollicers of the State Forest Service, who have been engaged upon sand-dune reclamation work on the Oroua Downs, near the mouth of the Rangitikei River, have come in daily contact with the katipo spider, the only known poisonous vermin found in New Zealand. A collection of a dozen of these active little spiders was recently received in Wellington, safely bottled up, and their appearance is certainly striking enough to attract attention. The bright orange-red stripe, which is the katipo’s main distinguishing feature, shows up in strong contrast to the shining black of the rest, of the body, and should warn seaside visitors not to take any liberties with the spider. In the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute” of 1870 an account is given of a case of katipo bite which occurred at Auckland, and also the method of treatment of the patient. Within an hour after being bitten by the spider, the patient, who was described as a stout, strong man, on attempting to .eat, found that he could not open his mouth, and was scarcely able to articulate. The symptoms grew rapidly worse, and the patient beoainc faint and almost pulseless, so that, the two medical attendants feared that he was about to expire. Spirits of ammonia were applied to I In: wound, which had the elfect of reducing the swelling anil abating the pain. Ammonia and water, afterwards combined with brandy, were administered in considerable doses, and under this treatment the patient gradually improved, and in two hours he was able to return to his home, but was unable to resume work for several days.

The bite of the katipo, although seldom fatal, is very painful and distressing, but the spider will only exert its dreaded power as a means of defence, or when irritated. It is only found among sandhills close to the sea coast, or just above the reach of high water, where it makes its home under the close vegetation or among drift-wood.