Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-08-16
Scorpions, Csntipedts, Tarantula.

There are two kinds OF scorpions, the |
green and the black; the latter is the
most venomous. When lived IN Trebi-
zond, says a writer, they were so numer
GUS that we kept canopy over the bed
to catch those which might fall from the
calling. 1t was carefully examined every
morning. 1 have shaken them out of
my boots. repeatedly came within an
ace of stepping on one with my bare
feet when getting out of bed. They
have an uncanny way of hiding in
cracks and under large stones, and run
with spider-like speed when aroused,
holding their spiky tail in the air, in an
aggressive manner that is not reassur-
ING. tt ia nlaimad lv Fnna thatL M
and sometimes death. But l have seen
several cases of scorpion-poisoning at
tended with swelling; Nicola, my don
key-driver, had his leg swelled to twice
the size, attended with excruciating pain.
In Asia Minor the native make decoc-
ton of scorpions, and give it to their
children as an antidote and preventive.
I never heard it did any good. This, on
the theory of sin1iliG sin1iLibuS, might
be called Homeopathic treatment if 1t
had not been employed before ever
Hahnemann was born.
The centipede or scalopendra is an
other insect about which l know moth
ing good that can be laid to its credit.
Possibly use may be found for it, as
they use spiders webs for quinine in
fever and ague, and powdered cock
reaches for Bright's disease. 1t has not
over thirty feet, so that the name is a
misnomer; but the feet terminate in a
sharp and scratchy point. The centipede
is copper colored, and its back is armed
with scales that make it quite hard. Its
sting is more often fatal than that of the
scorpion, and I have never taken to it
kindly, since I had an adventure with
one in Smyrna. I was sitting at supper,
thinly clad in accordance with the GUS
tom of the country during the long
steady heat which endures from April to
October. Suddenly l noticed something
creeping over my instep, and In an in
slant it was crawling up my leg, scratch
ing the skin slightly as it lelsurely pur-
sued its way up toward my knee. Ap-
pretending the situation at once
realized that to startle it would be the
height of folly. Keeping my leg per
fectly still, therefore, carefully claspeo
{ it above the knee with both hands tc
/ prevent the reptile from getting over the
e knee. When was ready struck ou
D my foot with q smart, rapid jerk, anc
I most happily shook off the creature, anC
{ Immediately put my foot on it, crushing
Y a centipede nearly six inches long.
3 But love the tarantula even less thai
q the centipede, It is in truth redoubt
t able foe, for aside from its hideou
: appearance it is quite unnecessaril
= aggressive, and clears several feet at
= lump. I have seen e.charmers L
@ the East tossing them from hand t
IT hand like hot'potato; of course tn
v poison had been extracted. They var
Is greatly in size, according to the eli
y 1nate, but always retain the same generf
" characteristics. A gentleman in Nassa
@ told me that his sister went up to be
rs one evening, and discovered an emo
IF nous tarantula in the middle of her pi
le low, Just like great ink-spot. Havln
le seen it afterward bottled, can testii
ID that its legs had spread of six inche
er and it's black hairy body was the size
er pigeons egg. She screamed, that b.
t. ing the right thing to do under the ci
i, cumstances, which brought the fami
v, TO the room; as her brother entered IL
% tarantula made spring at him, whlt
. resulted in the candle falling on I'll
floor and general rush of everyon
pell-mell, for the door. The cand
having been re-lit, it then became il
-. portant to find out on whom the tara
.oot tula might be crawling. After sor
'T more fun of this sort, the creature W
SC finally driven into corner and impal
I Oh sharp spike and was then preserv
nd in alcohol. Who says alcohol has
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