Spider poison baffles scientists

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Scientists at the National Institute of Sciences in Jakarta are trying to identify a poison from a spider that is suspected of killing at least three cows in eastern Indonesia, Antara reported yesterday.

"We have sent six dead specimens of the poisonous spider to the institute but so far it has not been able to identify it (the poison)," Suparman Rais, an official of the East Nusa Tenggara province, was quoted by the news agency as saying.

At least three cows have been killed by poisonous spiders in the Fatukanutu village, the report said.

A man was also been bitten by the spider and is recovering after receiving treatment which included eating his own feces.

The report gave no details of the spider's size or identifying marks.

Rais said the institute would need about four months to identify the poison. (swe)