Jim, the picture may be an urban legend, but it is not an exageration. I worked for So. Calif Edison before my retirement, and we had a very extensive safety program. We were educated in poisonous reptiles, insects and arachnids, including the brown recluse. The actual photos of the bite effects were very similar those Mark posted. A coworker was bitten by one while on the job, had to have a colostomy to stop the progression of the "rot." He was only about 40 years old. I'm glad Mark posted that reminder.