M. A. Dumeril on Venomous Fishes. 159 



Antilles [Sphyrana becuna, Lacep.), which is a very savoury fish, 

 is, however, eaten with considerable caution, ou account of its 

 often proving venomous; but when the roots of the teeth are 

 not black, according to M. Poey^s remark (Cuv. & Val. t. iii. 

 p. 341), or when a silver spoon or coin, placed in the vessel in 

 which the fish is being cooked, does not become blackened, the 

 ficsh may be eaten without fear *. 



In the same category must be ranged the great Sphyrmia 

 {S. barracuda, Cuv. & Val.), sometimes named Esox barracuda, on 

 account of its resemblance to the pike, both as regards its general 

 form and the quality of its flesh. It is very often poisonous ; 

 and the tests employed are the same as in the case of the Be- 

 cuna, a peculiar bitterness of the liver, however, being an addi- 

 tional sign in the case of this fish. 



There is a belief in the Antilles that this fish becomes poisonous 

 as a consequence of certain conditions of alimentation. How- 

 ever, according to MS. observations of Plee, reproduced by 

 Cuvier (Hist. Poiss. t. iii. p. 346), " its venomous properties are 

 due to a particular condition of the individual, which would 

 seem to recur at different periods." 



" If, on cutting it, a white watery fluid or matter, which is a 

 certain sign of malady, be not seen to issue,^^ it may be eaten 

 with perfect safety. 



" When salted," adds Plee, " it never produces any ill effects. 

 At Ste. Croix it is customary to defer eating it until the day after 

 that on which it has been subjected to the action of the salt." 



Dr. Guyon, Sanitary Inspector of troops at Martinique, has 

 expressed an opinion similar to that of Plee, in a MS. memoir 

 which he has kindly communicated to me, and of which the 

 ' Comptes Eendus Ac. Sc.^ 1856, t. xlii. p. 340, have given only 

 an extract referring to the symptoms attending the phenomena 

 of poisoning. According to him, the real cause is a commence- 

 ment of decay in the flesh of the fish. 



Knowing the rapidity with which, in hot climates, a certain 

 modification of tissue, not actually amounting to putrefaction, 

 will set in (some species being, no doubt from various causes at 

 present hidden from us, more particularly exposed to such modi- 

 cation than others), we can easily understand that such dire 

 results should so frequently occur. 



In support of this opinion, which I also share, M. Guyon 

 alleges the following facts : — 



* Thomas {loc. cit. p. 648) says, however, that imphcit confidence is not 

 to be placed in this as a preventive measure. He says that a surer method 

 is that of giving to a duck, a cat, or a dog the intestines of the fish, which 

 may be eaten with perfect security if, after an hour or two, no accident 

 shall have happened to the animal. 



