Abstract
As a postscript to Dr. Hutchinson's letters, I offer the following:—The centipede does not "bite"at all-it males tiny incisions with its- numerous feet; which in themselves cause trifling inconvenience; but, when alarmed, it drops into each some kind of venom that, causes intense inflammation (the modus operandi\ now forget,'but a-meditaTfriend explained it very clearly). I once had a centipede's nest in or near my bath-room, no less than eleven of different sizes having been killed there. Our first knowledge of them was derived from an infant child;of the female servant, who, having been left on the floor there, was found crying and writhing beyond all soothing. - When brought to me the child was feverish and restless, the left band specially hot'; on removing the little jacket, the fore-arm was found greatly swelled's!Jn(i iftflamed, -with twer rows, less than half an inch apart, %f pricks -shpwmg white on the delicate-brown flesh. Ipecacuanha, and eau de hice soon SuHuied tie'pain, but it was days'before 'the child was well a^ii. Several o other persqns also suffered from them,1 tut only -in 'one case was tie line''Cf pricks-;learly traceable. Once, stooping to take up a Water-pot, I felt aflittlefraissemtiit about the thumb; looking down, I perceived a centipede fully four inches* long, which- deliberately crawled across my hand near the knuckles, causing no'pairi, but a most unpleasant titillation, which continued for some time, though I put the hand in cold water immediately. On another occasion, seeing a centipede on the naked foot of one. of the women, I called out to her, "Roho rnut"(do not stir), and she similarly escaped all serious injury, while an application of warm, oil very quickly removed all irritation. Of course it is only when crawling straightforward and undisturbed that the line of pricks can possibly be detected. On disturbance the animal shrinks up, curls round, and brings a number of them into one spot; at least such was the case the only time I ever saw a centipede do mischief; and the same appeared probable on other occasions when I saw merely the after-result.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MEMORIA Centipedes and Bees. Nature 21, 12 (1879). https://doi.org/10.1038/021012b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/021012b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.