Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-22
SC0RP|AN MENACE
To THE MEX|CANS
SMALL CREATURE DOES FAR
MORE DAMAGE THAN ANY
OTHER REPTILE.
CLAIMS MANY DEATHS
It is Said That 1900 Persons Answer
the Summons Annually Due to
Its Stins-Unfortunate
Ones Suffer.

Mexico is a land Of troubles. Peren-
NAL revolutions raVage the people ana
bandits pillage and murder when SOL
liers are not about. But whatever the
limitations placed upon life expectancy
in that country in these restless days
the Mexican scorpion still holds the rec
ord as official executioner of the re-
public. Four thousand persons are re-
ported to die each year in Mexico from
the stings of the scorpions.
There are several varieties OF scor-
pions in Mexico, some OF them exceed
ingly venemous and other little reared.
In the neighborhood of Topic the viru-
lent centuris gracilis abounds, but 1t is
little known about the more northern
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 humid
and torrid--t is in the "tierra callente"
and it is. estimated that more than
$50 900 scorpions are killed each year,
with no appreciable effect on their
numbers.
Resembles = Lobster.
scorpion resembles diminutive
lobster Some specimens are eight
inches long, though the average length
is from two to four inches. The claws
closely resemble a Holsters and with
them the scorpion brushes it's prey aft
er disabling it by means Of sting.
The body of a 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
busnesslike appendage is horny,
sharp spine containing two little open
ings, which connect with the venom
gland within the cell of the last seq
ment In striking, the scorpion gives the
tail a rapid flashing motion forward In
advance of the body and literally ad-
ministers a hypodermic injection of
poison, or rather several injections, for
it usually stngs repeatedly when it
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
rnarauding insects A spider stung by O
scorpion may be observed undergoing
commissions Just before death as ami
mails or human beings do.
Unless sleeping cots are well screen
ed and the supports immersed in cans
of kerosene or carbolic acid-water
evaporates too rapidly--the proWling
scorpion may find it's way beneath the
bed covers and sting the restless child.
BY nature it is a nocturnal pest. In
Mexico every one takes a peep in the
toe Of his shoe before dressing on the
morning, to>assure himself that no un-
desirable citizen is hidden there
Scorpions do not Commit Suicide.
Contrary to common belief, scorpions
never commit suicide by singing them
selves to death-at least not in Mexico.
In fact, they seem immune to their own
venom. Two well matched specimens
will battle to death if confined in a
jar. singing each other repeatedly, yet
the victor does not die. He tears his
antagonist into small pieces with his
claws and voraciously devours 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 deblitated old
people The lower classes OF people suf-
fer more than the we'll to do, because Of
their custom of going about half naked
most Of the time.
In serious cases the local numDneSS
and pain or burning extend over the
body in few hours. Then follows a
feeling as Of a ball in the throat, the
victim clutching his throat as though
choking on a foreign body. Prompt
treatment at this state will usually save
life
If not treated the mouth soon begins
to froth and the eyes become Redeemed
and representative to light. Within an
hour or two the breathing grows short