166 FISHES AND FISHING. 



Galen was born A.D. 131, and died 201, consequently 

 nourished at Rome during the reign of the Emperor 

 Severus, who was born A. P. 146, succeeded to the 

 throne A.D. 192, and died A.D. 211. Oppian (men 

 tioned in the introduction) was born A.D. 183, and 

 died A.D. 213 ; probably recited his Halieuticks, when 

 he was about twenty-five, before the Emperor and his 

 son Caracalla, and he mentioned the cramp-fish, in 

 Book i. verse 151, as causing "numming pains." 

 In Book ii. verses 109 to 152, in giving an account of 

 the arts of this fish to obtain its prey, says, 



" One touch of hers dams up the vital flood, 

 Contracts the nerves, and clots the stagnate blood." 



And in Book in., verses 201 to 212, describes the 

 effects on the angler who happens to hook this fish, 

 even through the communication of the line and rod 

 only, " as'poisonous," as "binding up the spirits,'* 

 as " stiffening every joint," and " congealing the 

 blood."!* It certainly appears very extraordinary, 

 that Galen, who wrote so extensively, and had only 

 recently died, (i.e, about seven years) should have 

 had a " remedial agent" which he patronised, stigma 

 tized before the emperor, and with his royal appro 

 bation. 



Sir J. Richardson may very probably be correct as 

 *Seep. 159. 





