166 M. A. Dumeril on Venomous Fishes. 



acute agony, drawing cries from the patients. These sensations 

 were so lasting that the sailors, when already in a satisfactory 

 state and restored to their avocations, experienced thein still, 

 though in a modified degree. Later these gave place to a sin- 

 gular diminution of the sensibility : the impression produced by 

 the resistance of the ground and the physical qualities of ob- 

 jects held in the hand were very imperfect, and repeated appli- 

 cation of both touch and pressure became necessary to render 

 them complete." Thus, as M. Gasquet remarks, the poison- 

 principle had produced a sort of sideration of the nervous sys- 

 tem. Perfect sensibility of touch did not return for a mouth after. 



The urticary symptom extends also to the surface of the 

 buccal mucous membrane. There are often pains in the limbs, 

 and particularly at the articulations, where a considerable swell- 

 ing is sometimes apparent. 



When the case is not destined to prove fatal, a few vomitings 

 will clear the digestive organs, whence Epsom salts will cause the 

 ejection of various matters in a liquid form and commonly of 

 a fetid odour. On the other hand, existence is generally 

 seriously compromised when very frequent evacuations, at- 

 tended by tenesmus and violent pains in the entrails and in- 

 voluntary emission of urine, take place. Nevertheless these 

 symptoms are not always precursors of death, even when they 

 have been very intense during several hours. The condition 

 of convulsion is a very troublesome complication ; and during 

 its continuance life may perhaps be arrested suddenly and ra- 

 pidly; or, on the contrary, as in the remarkable case which 

 I have alluded to, in which thirty-four out of forty-two men 

 perished, it is during a profound insensibility, a sort of coma, 

 that the victim succumbs. 



In the number of these phenomena which have been observed 

 we may range that mentioned by Thomas as experienced by 

 himself. Under the noxious influence of the flesh of the 

 Rock-fish [Serranus rupestris) he became completely yellow, as 

 in jaundice — his urine, as also the liquid result of transpiration, 

 assuming the same tint. In one or two patients, whom he 

 mentions, the tegumeutary surface presented a similar change 

 of colour. 



When convalescence takes place, it is accompanied by a de- 

 squamation of the skin (the epidermis of which is detached), 

 and often also by a falling off" of the hair both of the head and 

 other parts of the body, and even of the nails. Further, it is 

 in all cases effected but slowly, as the constitution receives a 

 very severe shock, the effects of which are felt for years, and 

 disappear only by degrees. It is necessary to remove to a cold 

 climate, according to Thomas, who himself had recourse to this 



