The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-07-07
TROPICAL INSECTS.
The Tarantula Is the One Most to Be
Dreaded


Dreaded.
Excepting only the tarantula, the
crawling insects of the tropics are not
really dangerous, though they are
more than unpleasant, sufficiently SO
to make every one wary, and an i'll.
stinctive watchfulness becomes after
time habitual. 1t is only matter of
being careful and dangerous stings can
be avoided. The sting Of Il scorpion is
sharp and painful Rapid swelling
follows till great lump is formed at
and about the wound. the glands often
become swollen and Painful, and the
tongue swels So that speech may be
come difficult The pain lasts from
two to twentyfour houS. usually
any serious effects follow.
The centiped attacks by burying
It's sharp feet In the flesh and then
biting with It's jaws, inilicting deep
wounds. Often 1t goes Oh crawling
rapidly over the flesh. puncturing Il
with burning. needlelike feet, biting
continually, Its jaws buried deep in
Tic utSu Will NiSotouS HIS
is a serious affiiction. The sores, like
burning bllsters, are open for days,
and where centlped has walked and
bitten the flesh a livid sore develops,
leaving deep scar witness to the
pain inflicted. Sometimes even gan
creme may set In, and then death Is
apt to follow In few days. Thus n
wound from centiped unattended
easily becomes serious. The cent?
ped's back Is 30 smooth and Its mus
cles so supple that to check 1t under
ones clothing requires fortltude which
could press a redhot iron against the
naked flesh. Relax the hand for an
instant and the centlped slips away
to continue its course over the body.
The result Is not easily described. The
screams of Il person so attacked attest
the pain, and We dread the centipeds
l have seen them In the Jungles over
foot long and about three inches
broad. Usually they are less than half
this size, and fortunately their attacks
are rare. There are smaller cent?
peds, and bad enough 1t is to be bit
ten by them. but 1t Is the big fellows
In the woods which we dread.
OF oil the insects which crawl about
In the tropics the tarantula Is most te
be dreaded. 1t sinks its fanglike jaw
deep In the flesh, and n poison whiel
oozes out around them Is carried into
the wound. The soft body of tn
spider permits 1t to be easily killed,
and If there Is n why open for escape
the tarantula will take 1t, perhaps not
biting nj all. One bite IL gives, seldom
more, and this is sufficient. Days of
suffering must be endured, and death
may occur. Violent swelling follows
the bite of tarantula and afiiiets all
that part Of the body which has been
bitten. At times the flesh becomes
discolored, and with the intense pair
form of paralysis develops which
may result In death. If. however, til,
person bitten Ia enjoying fur healtl
| no evil effects result, out wnerc tit
blood Is In poor condition, the hear
weak or other organic troubles arr
present then stings or bites from
creeping insects. not only tarantulas
but all OF them, are apt to be fatal.
Naturally one crawls out from under
the tolda with feelings Of trepidation
and usually finds that some creeping
thing has made the outer folds OF the
tolda a resting place for the night
Forest aud Stream.