Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-12-19
DEADLY SCORPIONS.
Surgeon Maus' Interesting Report Con-
corning Pest often Sent to the
United States With Fruit.
Especial correspondence.I


Durango, he says, his attention was
drawn to the frequency of death as a re-
suit Of the scorpions sting in that city.
Under 10 years of age the mortality is
very great, if prompt measures are not
taken at once, and occasionally among
adults The sting Of THIS variety Of
scorpion found in the United States and
other parts Of Mexico is considered com
paratively harmless, and so far no salts
factory reason has been advanced to ex-
plain the malignancy Of the Durango
scorpion, which apparently differs in
nowise from the harmless scorpion found
elsewhere.
It's Deadly Sting.
The scorpion Of Durango is variety
of the Ischnurus mexicanus Of Villada
and is native of hot countries Of the
temperate zone. 1t corresponds in size
to that found in the southern United
States, is of a yellowish color and is
armed with curved, canaliculated
sting at the end of the tail, which it
carries over it's back while in motion.
1t is provided with poison sac at the
junction Of the last joint of the tail and
the sting The operation of singing is
performed by whipping process Of the
tail, during which movement the poi
son is injected into the tissues, and the
results of the case depend more or less
upon the thoroughness Of the operation.
While Durango is especially noted as
the home of this poisonous animal, it
appears that it is also found i'll other
parts of that state, and even in Topic
and Michoacan. Apart from these local
tiles it does not seem to propagate, or,
if so, loses its venomous qualities For
many years this scorpion has been trans
ported in bales of goods, blankets, Sc
rapes, etc. to the various towns through
out the republic, and in no instance has
it been known to propagate itself III
these new localities, or, if it lived at
all and reproduced itself, the progeny
became harmless.
The Work of determination.
During the scorpion season the city
council offers reward at the rate of rs
centavos per hundred, giving small
advance for females The capture of
these animals is usually carried on by
the street gamins, the hereditary foe of
the scorpion, who may be seen in great
numbers every evening searching the
streets, PLAINS, corrals, walls of build
ings, etc, armed with torch of pine,
long pole and can. Once brought to
the ground, the animal is covered with
handful of earth, his sting dexterous
" pinohed off with the thumbnail
(grown long for the occasion) and placed
in the can, for the pests must be deliv
cred alive to receive the reward. After
delivery to the city authorities they are
killed. The records of the municipal
government for the past decade show
that between so, 900 and 60, 900 are de-
livered annually for reward.
During the scorpion season no one
can consider himself safe, and due care
must be exercised at all times At
this time they are liable to be found be-
tween the sheets on retiring, i'll ones
wearing apparel on dressing, or the
hand may be unwittingly placed on one
quietly resting on the back of "a chair or
other piece of furniture. No warning is
given of their presence save slight
whistling sound.
a Peculiar Pain.
At the moment one is stung peculiar
characteristic pain is felt, and small,
reddish spot, which is difficult to see,
remains. Very shortly after the sting
series of phenomena appear, dependent
upon whether the person stung is sus-
ceptible to the poison or not. 1t appears
that certain natives are immune to the
poison, and few of this class permit
themselves to be stung number of
times in the presence of an admiring
audience for certain money considera-
ton. This class, except the slight pain
and reddish spot referred to, suffer no
symptoms.
In the susceptible class shortly after
the sting, q very few moments, formica-
ton begins near the site of injury and
extends TO the throat, nose and face. So
intense becomes the sensation that the
patient is compelled to rub violently the
affected parts for relief. Violent sneez-
ing and blowing the nose, with copious
expectoration of mucus and saliva, fol
low.
Muscular disorders now supervene
First, irregular contractions Of the mus
oles of the legs and arms occur, follow
ed by those of other parts of the body.
The jaws become rigidly set, as i'll tet-
anus, and, on account of the severity
of the CONFUSION, control over the pa
TENTS movements is lost. If these con-
WILSON'S increase in severity as the case
progresses, it usually proves fatal, while
if they diminish in intensity recovery
generally occurs. During this convul-
sive period the lungs become congested
and filled with bronchial secretion, the
circulation is rapid and irregular and
the respiration jerky. The temperature
rises to 1913 or l04 degrees.
Dead In an Hour.
DR.. Santa Maria, who has practioed
in Durango more than 40years, remem-
( bers one case, girl of l5, who died in
4 less than an hour.
In view of the cases Of scorpion bites
/ among people in this country who ham
/ die tropical fruit DR.. Maus' instruc-
/ tions for treating "A victim are especial
{ Ia, iutovacfiou oral trt4. t1pppt he saws