Show Aztecs of Years Ago Knew Much of of Insects Including di Black Widow Spider I The average Aztec of four centuries centuries centuries cen cen- ago knew more about insects than the average dweller city-dweller today says Dr C. C H H. H Curran associate curator of insect life of the American Ameri Ameri- can Museum of Natural History Proof of the Aztecs' Aztecs lively interest in n natural tural history writes Dr Curran Curran Curran Cur- Cur ran is handed down to us chiefly by the Spanish writer Sahagun His diligent pursuit of oC information on the subject is evidence that a definite definite definite nite interest in insects bisects and their ways existed before the present era of systematic science The black widow spider of the Aztecs Aztecs Aztecs Az Az- was the same as that which has attracted so much attention in the United States during the he last few years The Aztecs did not look upon it as deadly but they did consider it poisonous Sahagun wrote of this spid spider r There are some poisonous spiders in this country they are black and have a reddish tail The stings cause great fatigue for three or four days although they do not kill with their stings This is as true today as it was at the time of the Spanish conquest The bite may prove to be of little or no consequence it may result in serious illness for a few days or it may prove fatal if inflicted on a sensitive part of the body The virulence of the bite depends upon its location the condition of the spider at the time of the bite the amount of venom injected and the health of the individual The Aztec treatment for the bite of the black widow consisted of ot the application of a compress soaked inan in inan inan an an alkaline solution in a container of water It is noted that at the present time the bites and stings of insects are treated by keeping them moist with an alkaline solution such as baking soda Aside from complete complete complete com com- rest which the Aztecs seem to have recognized as beneficial in the case of black widow spider bite the treatment recommended today provides the intravenous injection in in solution of the drug known as Epsom salts |