SNAKE-BITES AND POISONOUS FISHES. 129 



industry and restriction of the area for beds being strongly opposed by a 

 certain section of interested persons. 



(4) Poison Wounds caused by Fish. — Perhaps the most widely feared fish 

 producing cutaneous injuries are the " Sting Rays, 1 ' belonging to the order 

 Batoidea. These have one or more sharp barbed spines attached to some 

 portion of the dorsal surface of the tail ; these may cause severe lacerations 

 when incautiously handling the fish, or when stepping on them while half 

 hidden in the sand. In the first case I personally came across, the pain was 

 so intense that the strong, healthy man almost fainted. There is no poison 

 apparatus connected with the spines, but they are like poison arrows, being 

 coated with mucus from the surface of the fish, which has peculiar irritating 

 properties. Another class of fish, the Scorpcenidce, are profusely provided 

 with sharp spines on the opercular plates, fins, etc., which inflict irregular 

 punctured wounds. Among the very dangerous fish are Synancea verrucosa 

 and S. horrida, found in the Red Sea and on the coasts of Africa and India ; 

 in these species the dorsal spines are grooved, having small poison bags 

 attached, the venom being injected into the wound by pressure. Injuries 

 from this fish occasionally cause death (Day). The symptoms vary according 

 to the amount of venom injected ; they are local pain, increasing and spread- 

 ing from the wound, with swelling of the part, lymphangitis and gangrene, 

 attended with convulsions, delirium, and attacks of syncope. 



Other very dangerous fish are the Thalassophryna, of which two species 

 are known, one in the Pacific, the second in the Atlantic Ocean. These fish, 

 according to Giinther, possess as perfect "poison sacs and tubular spines as 

 any venomous snake. The poison sacs are attached to the bases of the 

 opercular and dorsal spines. 



In the " "Weavers " Trachinus, common in European waters, the dorsal and 

 opercular spines have deep double grooves, these being filled with fluid 

 mucus, but there is no true poison apparatus. Wounds inflicted by them 

 are followed by violent inflammation of the injured part. 



Many genera of the " cat fish " tribe Siluridce are excessively dangerous 

 to handle, the dorsal and pectoral fins having very hard serrated bony 

 spines, which may inflict serious wounds ; in some of these fish glandular 

 organs are found at the axils of the spines ; the body is covered 'by an 

 offensive tenacious mucus, which can readily inflict the wound. Great 

 numbers are commonly eaten by the lower "castes" in India, they are there- 

 fore frequently caught ; the fishermen immediately cut off the offending 

 spines, it being rare to see a perfect specimen in the market. 



Treatment of Wounds. — These should be enlarged and the blood allowed 

 to flow freely, or the part may be ligatured above, and the poison removed 

 by cupping or sucking the wound, then ammonia or spirits of turpentine 

 may be applied, followed by fomentations, opium being given and stimulants 

 as necessary. The wounds caused by the serrated spines of rays and cat fish 

 almost always suppurate. 

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