the 1890s for spider bites in general was rubbing in tobacco juice to the bitten skin, similar to some of the traditional uses of the tobacco plant for various bites and stings from Central and South America. Wild dancing and music was the cure for tarantism—the frenzy was believed to arise from the bite of a spider. An antivenom was developed against wolf spiders in Brazil and used for decades. Wolf spiders have since been exonerated—they never caused illness. See also ArachnoServer database Raventoxin Vanillotoxin References External links Medical Journal of Australia article gives statistics on the most frequent biters and the most serious bites. CDC – Venomous Spiders – NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic Arthropod attacks Parasitic infestations, stings, and bites of the skin Toxic effects of venomous animals Spiders and humans