M. A. Dumeril on Venomous Fishes. 165 



tainly be added; but the scientific determination of many is at 

 present so uncertain that the mere mention of them would be 

 of very little utility. 



Accidents occasioned by the use of poisonous kinds of Fishes. 



The preceding details have made known some of the sym- 

 ptoms of this species of poisoning. Their similarity in every case 

 is remarkable. Many of them, it is true, especially those which 

 characterize more properly the graver stages of functional affec- 

 tion, may be absent when the result is not destined to be fatal ; 

 but these symptoms, variable in their intensity, are constantly 

 the same. 



First of all supervenes dizziness, obscuring of the vision, and 

 giddiness. To these feelings are constantly added palpitation 

 of the heart, and a sensation of weight and heat in the sto- 

 mach and entire abdomen. At the same time the pulse be- 

 comes slower and feebler, and the patient is soon obliged to 

 resort to a horizontal position. Then commence the urticary 

 symptoms so commonly attendant upon poisoning by means of 

 mussels, and the essential character of which is the appearance 

 on the face and on different parts of the body of numerous 

 slight elevations, red or white blotches of irregular form and 

 variable dimensions, resembling the blisters produced by the 

 sting of nettles, and surrounded by a ring of matter of an almost 

 crimson hue. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet are 

 more particularly the seat of a sensation of burning, the con- 

 comitant of eruption. This is accompanied, according to the 

 testimony of Thomas (of Salisbury) (Traite Med. Prat., transl. 

 by H. Cloquet, t. ii. p. 643), by a tingling of the hands when 

 these are immersed in water — a certain indication, as he remarks, 

 of the true nature of the malady. 



The sensation of tingling was the culminating symptom of a 

 case of poisoning observed by M. Gasquet, and of which Dr. 

 Roux, junr., of Brignoles, furnished an account to the Societe 

 Imp. de Medecine de Marseille, prefacing the same by certain 

 remarks on the poisonous properties of fishes (Bull, des Trav. 

 of that Society, 1860, pp. 97-116-^). " The palms of the hands 

 and soles of the feet,^^ says M. Gasquet, "were the seat of pains 

 such as might be produced by the points of needles heated in 

 flame. This tingling, which was unaccompanied by any redness 

 or swelling, occasioned a continual agitation in the seven men 

 who were under the influence of the poison : they could not re- 

 main at rest; and the least touch or the eflfort of walking caused 



* The fish in this instance was a percoid, the species of which has not 

 been ascertained. 



