Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-16
TROPICAL INSECTS,
The TarantuIa Is the One Most to Be
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 in
stinctive watchfulness becomes after
a time habitual. 1t Is only a matter of
being careful and dangerous stings can
be avoided. The sting of 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 swells so that speech may be-
come difficult. The pain lasts from
two to twenty-four hours, usually
about a day, and it is exceptional if
any serious effects follow.
The centiped attacks by burying
its sharp feet in the flesh and then
biting with it's jaws, inflicting deep
wounds. Often it goes on crawling
rapidly over the flesh, puncturing it
with burning, needlelike feet, biting
continually, its jaws buried deep in
the flesh with vigorous rapidity. This
burning blisters, are open for days,
and where a centiped has walked and
bitten the flesh livid sore Develops
leaving a 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 a
wound from centiped unattended
easily becomes serious. The cent?
ped's back is so smooth and it's mus
cles SO supple that to check it under
ones clothing requires fortitude which
could press a redhot iron against the
naked flesh. Relax the hand for an
instant and the centiped slips away
to continue it's course over the body.
The result is not easily described. The
screams of a person so attacked attest
the pain, and we dread the centipeds.
I 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 it is to be bit
ten ny them, but it is the big fellows
in the woods which we dread.
Of all the insects which crawl about
in the tropics the tarantula is most to
be dreaded 1t sinks its fanglike jaws
deep in the flesh, and a poison which
oozes out around them is carried into
the wound. The soft body of the
spider permits it to be easily killed,
and If there is way open for escape
the tarantula will take it, perhaps not
biting at all. One bite it gives, seldom
more, and this is sufficient. Days of
suffering must be endured, and death
may occur. Violent swelling follows
the bite of a tarantula and aff1icts all
that part Of the body which has been
bitten. At times the flesh becomes
discolored, and with the intense pain
a form of paralysis develops which
may result in death. If, however, the
person bitten Is enjoying fair health
no evil effects result, but where the
blood is in poor condition, the heart
weak or other organic troubles are
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 and Stream.