Cushing Nancy, Markwell Kevin
University of Newcastle.
Health History. 2010;12(2):79-96. doi: 10.5401/healthhist.12.2.0079.
Based on a content analysis of treatments of the funnel web spider in the Sydney Morning Herald between 1955 and 1985, this paper argues that negative attitudes towards the funnel web were encouraged throughout this period in news stories, commentary, and advertisements and were demonstrated in the reported words and actions of members of the general public. Despite this opprobrium, research into a funnel web antivenom was able to proceed because of the willingness of individuals to collect the spiders and forward them to researchers. Negative attitudes towards the funnel web were able to be directed to a positive action which eventually helped to bring about the development of an antivenom, lessening the real threat posed by the spider.
基于对1955年至1985年间《悉尼先驱晨报》上漏斗网蜘蛛相关报道的内容分析，本文认为，在此期间，新闻报道、评论和广告中都在宣扬对漏斗网蜘蛛的负面态度，且普通民众的言论和行为报道也证实了这一点。尽管面临这种指责，但由于有人愿意收集漏斗网蜘蛛并将它们交给研究人员，对漏斗网蜘蛛抗毒血清的研究得以继续进行。对漏斗网蜘蛛的负面态度能够转化为积极行动，最终推动了抗毒血清的研制，降低了这种蜘蛛造成的实际威胁。
