144 



A HISTORY OF FISHES 



potency of the venom may be gauged by the fact that a few 

 drops of the fluid compounded by crushing up the poison spines 

 will kill a guinea-pig when injected into its blood. 



Dr. Evans writes that "the treatment of wounds produced 

 by venomous fish is simple and efficacious." The injection of 

 a few minims of a five per cent, solution of permanganate of 

 potash (Condy's fluid) into the puncture provides immediate 

 relief and prevents any inflammation. For the inflammation 

 in cases which have not been promptly treated he recommends 

 the appHcation of cooling lotions or of hot fomentations. 



!CC:rv7: 





Fig. 60. 



A. Spiny Dog-fish (Squalus acanthias),X^jj ; B. Electric Cat-fish (Malopterurus 

 electricus), X J ; c. Electric Eel {Electrophorus electricus), X tV« 



There are a number of fishes which, although without definite 

 poison organs, have their flesh more or less permeated with 

 poisonous substances, which takes the form of alkaloids of a 

 particular kind called leucomaines. This may be regarded as 

 a special form of self-protection, saving the species by poisoning 

 its enemies! The Puflfers or Globe-fishes (Tetrodontidae) , File- 

 fishes {Monacanthidae) and most of the Toad-fishes {Batrachoi- 

 didae) are all more or less poisonous, and to eat certain species 

 such as the Muki-Muki or Death fish of Hawaii is to invite 

 almost certain death. The principal symptoms are paralysis 

 and severe gastric derangement, and the poison seems to act 

 especially on the nerves of the stomach, causing violent spasms 



