272 VENOMS 
A good description of the disease has been given by Dr. 
Skévos Zervos, of Athens.’ It is observed exclusively in men 
who dive quite naked, without a diving-dress. Now, beside the 
bases of the sponges and sometimes on their surface there live 
numbers of anemones which secrete a viscid substance, which is 
extremely virulent, especially in the month of August. 
The first symptoms that supervene after contact with these 
Coelenterates are an intense itching and burning sensation ; a papule 
of a horny consistency appears at the outset at the spot at which 
contact took place ; this is soon surrounded by a red zone, which 
becomes bluish and then black, and spreads to a greater or lesser 
extent, according to the region attacked and the virulence of the 
venom. After a few days the skin sloughs and leaves a deep ulcer, 
which suppurates in spite of antiseptic treatment. The onset of 
the disease is marked by a febrile attack with shivering, which is 
soon accompanied by cephalalgia, thirst, and pains in the back and 
limbs. 
Zervos reproduced these disorders experimentally by rubbing an 
anemone, held with forceps, on the shaven abdomen of a dog. In 
a few minutes the region affected became quite red and prurigi- 
nous; twenty-five minutes later phlyctenæ full of serum appeared ; 
three days afterwards five abscesses of different sizes developed, 
while at the place where it had been touched by the venom the 
skin assumed a deep blue colours on the fifth day an area 2 cm. 
in diameter was completely gangrenous. | 
When ingested, anemones possess toxic properties which are 
well known to the sponge-fishers, for they frequently make use of 
them for the purpose of poisoning domestic animals. With this 
object they cut them up into small fragments, and mix them with 
bread or meat, which is given to the animals to eat; the latter die 
in convulsions in a few minutes. 
In order to preserve the divers from the harmful effects produced 
' Semaine médicale, June 24, 1908. 
