Chapter III Symptoms and Trea-tanents 



Section 1 Symptoms 



The sym:ptoms of poisoning which appear when the toxio material is adminis- 

 tered by mouth have been generally observed in the results of the various 

 experiments and in the popular accounts of cases of accidental poisoning de- 

 tailed above, hov?ever, although we heard of such cases we had little opportunity 

 to see them ourselves. Consequently we have interviewed doctors in the area 

 studied and have personally questioned victims of fish poisoning to assemble 

 the information presented below. 



Of course all of the 46 species described above do not produce the same 

 symptoms, nor is it assvnned that the toxic agent is the same in all of them, 

 but there are certain effects generally common to all. 



In most oases the following symptoms are encountered. Directly after eating, 

 the stomach feels upset and the patient vomits. In experiments with animals 

 many of the cats showed this symptom. Even when the flavor is good and no ill 

 effects are felt while the fish is in the mouth, after from 30 minutes to 2 

 hours the inside of the mouth, the lips, and the stomach feel abnormal. The 

 lips and mouth either feel hot, as if red peppers had been eaten, or they itch, 

 and the stomach feels oppressed. 



After a little more time has passed, numbness sets in, generally around 

 the lips, tongue, inside of the mouth, anus, etc. Many persons also say that 

 the skin of their hands and feet had no feeling. Others say that their h^nds 

 and feet hurt when placed in water. 



In the experiments, animals affected to this degree did not react by with- 

 drawing their feet when they were pricked with a dissecting needle. We were 

 able to detect a mild degree of poisoning by observing the reactions to 

 pricking of various degrees of severity. 



More strongly affected cases generally suffer impairment of their movements, 

 and in some the hearing is affected, while others drivel, unable to sv/allow 

 their saliva. In severe cases the patient is unable to stand or walk, and in 

 the most serious oases respiration becomes difficult, the pulse is erratic, 

 and death results. Most deaths occur after from 5 to 24 hours. 



Impairment of the ability to walk was clearly perceived in the experiments 

 with cats. In cases of severe poisoning the cat's hind quarters gave way and 

 the aniiial could not stand up even when lifted onto its feet (photograph 3). 

 In milder cases the animal, when forced to walk, would stagger erratically. 

 [Page 115] These observations were used to evaluate the symptoms of poison- 

 ing (photographs 1 and 2). Mice similarly affected crawled on their bellies 

 (photograph 4) . 



In many cases these symptoms were accompained by diarrhea. Some persons 

 reported being cured of roundworms and feeling better than ever afterwards. 

 This occurred with the akadokutarumi [ Lutjanus vaiguensis ] and the 

 dokuutsubo [Oymnothorex^f lavimarginatus J 



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