The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-03-19
SCORPION STINCS.
They Kill Thousands of Persons
Yearly In Mexico.
QUICK WORK OF THE POISON.
Tho Venom of the Deadly Species, Un-
less Prompt Treatment Follows the
Bite, Will End the Life of the Victim
In Twelve or Fourteen Hours.

-Four thousand persons are reported
b die each year In Mexico from the
stings of scorpions.
There are several varieties of scor
pions in Mexico. some of them exceed
hgly venomous and others little feared
In the neighborhood Of Topic the viru
lent Centuris gracilis abounds. but II
IL little known about the more north
ern state OF Sonora. 1t is one Of the
most venomous creatures in the world
In the small city Of Durango scor-
pions are perhaps more plentiful and
more dangerous than anywhere else In
the republic. Here the climate Is hu-
mid and tOrrid-it is In the "tierra
caliente"-and 1t Is estimated that more
than 10000 scorpions are killed each
year, with no appreciable effect on
their numbers.
scorpion resembles diminutive
lobster Some specimens are eight
inches long. though the average length
10 from two to four inches. The claws
closely resemble lobster's; with them
the scorpion brushes its prey after dis
abling 1t by means Of a sting
The body of scorpion consists of
several segmented joints the last five
or more narrowing down to form the
tail. which curls up forward over the
body and terminates In the sting. This
businesslike appendage is horny
0hQFn Qninn ifinn fryn Iffla
ings which connect with the venom
gland within the shell of the last seq
ment. In striking the scorpion gives
the tail rapid lashing motion forward
In advance Of the body and literally
administers hypodermic injection of
poison. or rather several injections, for
Il usually stings repeatedly when 1t
does strike
In color scorpions vary according to
environment One ordinarily colorless
or translucent will assume brown or
blackish shade In dark surroundings
Scorpions live In the cracks Of the sun
baked clay. under stones. in the chinks
Of the adobe huts and In the cracks in
the plaster of old frame houses. They
prey upon spiders and other night
marauding insects. A spider stung by
scorpion may be observed under
going commissions before death Just as
animals or human beings do.
Unless sleeping cots are we'll screen
ed and the supports immersed In cans
OF kerosene or carbolic acid-water
evaporates too rapidly-the prowling
scorpion may find its way beneath the
bed covers and sting the restless child
By nature 1t is nocturnal pest. In
Mexico every one takes a peep in the
toe of his shoe before dressing In the
morning to assure himself that no un
desirable citizen is hiding there.
Contrary to common belief scorpions
never commit suicide by singing them
selves to deatb-at least not In Mexico
In fact they seem immune to their
own venom. Two well matched speci-
ments will battle to death IL confined
In jar. singing each other repeated
ly, yet the victor does not die. He
tears his antagonist into small pieces
with his claws and voraciously de-
YOURS every trace Of the vanquished
foe. And the cannibal thrives on the
diet
Some scorpion bites cause little more
than burning pain and numbness In
the part affected for a few days. But
the more poisonous varieties cause
death, and that speedily, especially
when they sting young children or de-
old people. The lower classes
Of people suffer more than the well
10 do because Of their custom Of going
about half naked most of the time.
In serious cases the local numbness
and pain or burning extend over the
body in few hours. Then follows a
feeling as of ball In the throat. the
victim clutching his throat as though
choking on a foreign body. Prompt
treatment at this stage will usually
save life
If not treated the mouth soon begins
30 froth and the eyes become Redeemed
and representative to light. Within an
hour or two the breathing grows short
er and more difficult. the body turns
blue. the pulse fails and commissions
set in. The commissions recur fire.
Qucntiy 6tNciui uOuIb, Dub NOi-
plete relaxation usually ushers In the
end
Fortunately Inconsistencies devel-
ops early. so that the victim does not
suffer the tortures of one dying from
lockjaw. The average time required
for scorpion sting to cause death Is
twelve or fourteen hours.
The treatment of scorpion sting con-
sists Of free incision of the part to
promote copious bleeding then vigor-
GUS massage toward the bleeding CEN
ter for half an hour or more. Stimu-
lants-meaning drugs and not that
pseudo stimulant. alcohoi-are also nee
essary.
In villages where physicians are
wanting the treatment Is applied by
practicantes" Ignorant. self constitut-
ed healers. and many a peon carries
horrible scars from the pracicante's
crude surgery Their reckless use OF
carbolic acid, iodine and similar poi
sons also accounts for many otherwise