Medicine: Black Widow Serum

Certain vineyardists in western Colorado, parts of Utah and northern California last year were obliged to let their entire crop of grapes rot because pickers were afraid of the black widow spiders which infested the vines. In some regions throughout the Midwest black widows also got into the tomato vines, with the same result.

Last week Professor Fred Edmund D'Amour, University of Denver zoologist and physiologist, sent the cheery message to vineyardists and tomato croppers that he has devised a serum against the black widow's poison. The poison causes spasms, high fever, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, occasionally death. Treatment has been to relieve...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!