FL19466783

[Page 62]

[Saturday 31 March 1883]

Since I last wrote I have been blind in
one eye & half so in the other. Today,
I am better I am thankful to say.
I pity anyone with the "Gulf Sandy
blight" it is perfect agony. Poor
Ernie was bitten by a red eyed black spider
on Wednesday night, & since then
has been suffering frightfully. This
morning & afternoon, he has been
frantic with the pain. It bit him on
the nape of the neck & it swelled down
his shoulder & both that & his head
is dreadful. The first night he was
bad nearly all night & they had to
sit up with him (I was too ill), the
next day until lunch time he was
better, but in the middle of the day
& at night the pain came on as bad
as ever for 3 or 4 hours. On Friday
he had no attack until 5 in the
evening, when it last more severe than
ever until he went to sleep after 2 doses
of laudenum at 10. I & the girls took it
in turns to sit & take his hand. He
nearly wrenched them off at times.
Today he has been very bad all day. Mr.
Shadforth put an Ipecacuana poultice
on the bite the first night which they
say must have done him good as he is
not as bad as others who were suffer-
ing in the same way —