]58 M. A. Dumeril on Venomous Fishes. 



of this size, it is dreaded as often proving poisonous (MS. 

 note by Plee in Cuv. & Val. t. ix. p. 440) ; and Thomas (of 

 Salisbury) (Traite Med. Prat., translated by H. Cloquet, t. ii. 

 p. 648) says that all fishes exceeding the average dimensions 

 are regarded with mistrust by the fishermen. 



VI. 



The baneful properties would seem to be developed diversely, 

 according to the season of the year. Thus, in the Loyalty 

 Islands, as M. Jouan, captain of a frigate, has observed in a 

 notice published by him relative to these islands (Mem. de la 

 Soc. Imper. des Sc. Nat. de Cherbourg, t. xvii.), many species 

 are dangerous, and even deadly, according to the time of the 

 year at which they may have been taken. It often occurs, he 

 says, that the natives poison themselves by partaking of fishes 

 which at other seasons have been eaten with perfect impunity. 



In the Antilles many fishes, as the ' Petit Negre^ (Serranus 

 nigriculus, C. & V.) and others, should be avoided at certain 

 periods of the year, in the same way that we cease to take 

 oysters during the season of their reproduction. 



It is, indeed, at the time of spawning that we observe such 

 species to become dangerous. The Conger or sea-eel, for in- 

 stance, will occasion dysentery at the time of depositing its ova 

 (llisso, Ichth. de Nice, p. 93). 



It is further known that the ova of the pike, barbel, and 

 burbot are very efficient purgatives; and these fishes have more 

 than once, when taken in the act of spawning, caused accidents 

 due to the precaution having been omitted of completely clearing 

 away both the organs and products of generation. Dr. Frauque 

 has published a curious observation relative to eff"ects experienced 

 by four persons who had eaten the ova of the barbel, while 

 others, who had rejected the ova but partaken of the flesh of the 

 fish, felt no ill consequence (Journ. fiir Kinderkrankheiten^ & 

 Gaz. Med. 1859, p. 526). 



VII. 



To the different causes already enumerated we must now add, 

 as holding an important place in the setiology of this subject, 

 such alteration as may supervene in the tissues, and more parti- 

 cularly in the flesh. How, in fact, otherw^ise shall we explain 

 many very serious cases in which food, mode of capture, and 

 such changes as are dependent upon age and season of the year 

 have nothing to do with the efi'ects produced ? 



Sometimes there is no cause whatever for apprehension ; 

 sometimes, on the contrary, results would justify any amount of 

 previous mistrust and circumspection. Thus the Becuna of the 



