The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-24
BAD CASE OF BLooD-pOIsoNING.
A Boy Investigates Spiders Winter Quar-
ters and Is Badly Bitten.

NEW YORK Jan. 23-James White lives with
his wife and five children in two-story frame
house near the railroad depot at Baysde. L. l.
His son John, a bright and active youth, about
nine years of age, possesses an inqusitive mind
and has for some time shown mnch interest in
natural history. In following his inclination in
this direction, on the morning of Dec. Is, he
was led to stir up a nest of spiders which were
taking a winters nap in an clubhouse upon his
fathers land. One of the SPIDERS the largest of
all, Che boy says, ran up his sleeve and bit him
upon the right arm just below the elbow. The
boy described the spider as one of extraordinary
size, of q peculiar dark BLUSH black
color, with any number of legs,
and large head with two curved antenne
growing out of the neck The bow after he felt
the bite, rolled up his sleeve and found the
epider sticking on his arm as if sucking blood.
The spider held on so that it took considerable
force to brush it off, and when it did let go, it
ran down the arm and bit the flesh again near
the wrist The boy hit it smart rap and 1T
dropped off and ran away. He went on with his
play and did not pay any attention to the bite,
though he felt sharp pricking sensation IN the
arm.
His arm began to swell Immediately after the
spider let go its hold but the boy did not say
anything about it to anyone. About four days
afterwards, his uother noticed swelling on his
hand, and spoke to him about it. He then told,
for the first time of being bitten by the spider.
His mother Immediately rolled up his sleeve,
and to her amazement and horror found his arm
swollen to more than twice its natural size
and at the point where the spider bad bitten
there was outlined ring, about an inch
in diameter, of a peculiar reddish tinge, with
q darker border. The center was indented and
presented an exceedingly virulent appearance
Shortly afterward the boy was attacked with a
distressing nausea and faintness. Becoming
alarmed, Mrs White bundled him up and took
him four miles to Flushing, to the house of DR..
Lawrence, who pronounced it a serious case of
blood poisoning. He ordered the patient to be
taken home at once. and said that the chances
were against saving the boys life, on account of
the time that the poison had been in his system.
The arm continued to swell, and though every
known remedy was resorted to- young White
continued to grow weaker every day, and his
life was despaired of. He became so weak that
he could swallow neither food nor medicine The
swelling in the arm became greatly reduced al
though the arm is still much larger than when
In natural state.
1t is still painful to tie touch, and the muscles
governing its motion seem to be partially par
alyzed as he cannot move it except with assist
ance from the other hand Since the swelling
has been reduced in the arm, young Whites left
thigh which had been sore to the touch onlv
has assumed pinkish appearance, and has been
increasing in size. 1t presents moteled appear
ance, and is covered with dark and red spots
When it is touched, he shrnks and means and
complains of great burning and disagreeable
prckling sensation.
For the last week the boys condition has been
gradually improving, and he has been able to
take and retain food and medicine without dis
tress He does not suffer much from pain,
though he means, talks and screams at times
when asleep. His skin has lost its leaden hue,
and now has the ashy paleness that the skin
takes on before death Mr. and Mrs. White
have hopes of their sons recovery. DIR. Lawr-
ence said tonight that the boy is still in crit
ical condition, though there is bare chance
for his recovery.