Show aztec azteca of years ago knew much of insects Inc including ludina black widow spider the average aztec of four centuries ago knew more about insects than the average city dweller today says dr C 11 II curran associate curator of insect life ot of the american museum of natural history proof of the antl azteca aztecs cs lively interest in natural hist history ory writes dr curran is handed down to us chiefly by the spanish writer sahagun his diligent pursuit of information on the subject is evidence that a definite interest in insects and their ways existed before the present era of systematic science the black widow spider of the az becs was the same as that which has attracted so much attention in the united states during the last few years the aztecs azteca did not look up upon on it as deadly but they did consider it POison poisonous ou s sahagun wrote of this spider 6 there are some poisonous spid spiders ers in this country they are black and have a red reddish dish tail the stings cau cause se great fatigue for three or tour 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 pro prove ve 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 tile spider at the time of the bite the tha amount of venom injected and the tha health of the individual the aztec treatment for the bite bita of the black widow consisted of the tha application of a compress soaked in 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 thern them moist with an alkaline solution such as baking soda aside from complete rest which the aztecs azteca seem to have rec recognized as beneficial in tile the case of black widow spid spider er bite the treatment recommended today provides the intravenous anje injection c tion in solution of the drug known as F epsom phorn salt salts |