You guys who've been bitten by brown spiders don't know how lucky you are to be alive, much less relatively whole. There are only 2 deadly poisonous spiders in North America, and they are the black widow and the brown recluse.
A friend's mother was bitten by a brown, once on the upper thigh, once on the stomach, and once on the shoulder (spider had been inside a little-used spare nurse's uniform.) She survived, but will forever be bedridden with life support and various tubes. Had to amputate her arm and leg, and cut out the section of stomach where she had been bitten.
Brown & black venom is of a different nature than most spider and bee/wasp venom. They are generally local type venoms, but brown spider venom is more systemic. It starts killing flesh and organs immediately around the bite area, and spreads as it goes. Left untreated, the victim dies of massive gangrene as the affected area of the body dies and then begins to decompose (while still attached to the living flesh.) Gruesome way to die. Never assume that a spider bite is relativley innocuous unless you can positively identify the spider as being a non-lethal type. Browns are apparently very small, and not easy to identify.
Oddly enough, I've heard that the most potent spider venom by far is from the daddy longlegs, but their fangs are too fragile for them to use against anything but the smallest of insects. Supposedly, the venom is so potent that it could kill a healthy large man within minutes. I'm sure glad they can't bite.
A yard man who worked for us when I was a youngster was bitten on the penis by a black widow. YEEEOOWWW! He was sick for several weeks, but survived.
------------------
Shoot straight regards, Richard
The Shottist's Center
forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=45acp45lc
