Human venom
Humans are filthy creatures, my good self included. Here's how I found out.
Yesterday evening, I knew I was due to clip my fingernails. I hate having my fingernails longer than my fingertips and I also have to cut them for harp playing. I forgot and apparently scratched the back of my neck, breaking the skin.
I noticed it was itchy. It swelled up to a round lump by about 7 pm. When we left the party at 10, it was the size of a hen's egg, sliced sideways, covering the entire back of my neck. I was less than enthusiastic about going to the ER at 11 pm on a Saturday night, so I decided to go to bed and see what happened.
Today the swelling is way, way down, but the site is very tender and sore. I do make a point of washing where my nail and skin come together, so I shudder to think of what would have happened if this was not my habit.
Yesterday evening, I knew I was due to clip my fingernails. I hate having my fingernails longer than my fingertips and I also have to cut them for harp playing. I forgot and apparently scratched the back of my neck, breaking the skin.
I noticed it was itchy. It swelled up to a round lump by about 7 pm. When we left the party at 10, it was the size of a hen's egg, sliced sideways, covering the entire back of my neck. I was less than enthusiastic about going to the ER at 11 pm on a Saturday night, so I decided to go to bed and see what happened.
Today the swelling is way, way down, but the site is very tender and sore. I do make a point of washing where my nail and skin come together, so I shudder to think of what would have happened if this was not my habit.