ABC radio was just talking about the white-tailed spider, saying that
the infection its bite sometimes causes can best be treated using the
same drug as is used for treating leprosy. (Come to think of it, there
does seem to be more than a passing resemblance between the two.)

A spider expert said that the flesh-eating infection is not unique to
the white-tailed spider and can be caused by other spiders. He said we
shouldn't kill white-tail spiders--they help to keep down the numbers of
red-backs and funnel-webs.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)