Here’s a site with information on them and other types of spiders:
http://www.calpoison.org/public/spiders.html
How to Identify and Treat Black Widow Spider Bites
http://www.ehow.com/how_7749_identify-treat-black.html
We’ve used a Black Salve to draw out the toxins and to help to heal the wound: http://www.theherbsplace.com/herbsalv.html
I alternated between the Black Salve and the Golden Salve after Day One and never had any symptoms other than redness and a bit of pain initially.
Herbal salves have come in handy around our house many many times especially for cuts that we would’ve had to get stitches for. Capsicum powder (cayenne) stops the bleeding and then the Golden Salve has healed the wounds. I cut my finger with a tree saw down to the bone and used this method and now see only a fine hairline scar.
When I was a kid I got stitches on one of my fingers and there’s a big scar for that. Keeping an Herbal Medicine Chest makes some “emergencies” a lot easier and less expensive.
Herbal Medicine Chest info: http://www.theherbsplace.com/hmc.html
Randal