1.
CU MALE AND FEMALE SCORPIONS (FEMALE THE LARGER).
0.08

2.
CU FEMALE SCORPIONS.
0.13

3.
SCU MALE AND FEMALE.
0.15

4.
FULL C.U... MALE AND FEMALE.
0.18

5.
FULL C.U... FEMALE STING.
0.24

6.
FULL C.U... FEMALE, MALE TOO.
0.33

7.
CU SCORPIONS PICKED DUP WITH TWEEZERS.
0.46

8.
CU "MILK" BOTTLES.
0.50

9.
CU.PAN DOWN.. B.J. KEYTER HOLDS SCORPION.
0.54

10.
CU SCORPIONS "MILKED" ONTO GLASS.
1.03

11.
SCU TEASED WITH TWEEZERS, MILKED AGAIN.
1.17

12.
CU KEYTER
1.18

13.
CU VENOM FROM SCORPION.
1.30

14.
SV BOTTLED.
1.32



Initials RE/V/MR/GH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: "MILKING" SCORPIONS IS THE LATEST ENTERPRISE BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AT ITS LABORATORIES IN JOHANNESBURG.THE AIM IS TO BUILD UP SERUM SUPPLIES TO COUNTER THE SCORPION'S LETHAL STING.

SUPERVISING THE OPERATION IS B.J.KEYTER FROM THE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SECTION.HIS SCORPION FARM HOUSES AROUND 200 WHOSE LIFE SPAN RARELY EXCEEDS TWELVE MONTHS.THE MILKING ARE MADE WEEKLY.

THE MILKING IS PERFORMED WHILE THE SCORPION IS HELD BETWEEN FOREFINGER AND THUMB.ITS BODY IS THEN IRRITATED AND THE POISON FROM THE TAIL STING DISCHARGED ON A GLASS SLIDE.FROM THIS VENOM A SERUM IS PRODUCED WHICH CAN NEUTRALISE THE POISON.

IT IS AN ARDUOUS TASK.ONE-THOUSAND "MILKINGS" ARE NECESSARY FOR ONE GRAM OF VENOM, BUT THE REWARD IS LIVES SAVED WHICH ONE WERE LOST.THESE SAME LABORATORIES, WHICH TODAY COMBAT THE SCORPION, HAVE PREVIOUSLY WON THE WORLD-WIDE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR PRODUCTION OF SNAKE-BITE SERUM.