EFFECTS OF THE POISON. 253 



the muscles of the chest even were affected, the same 

 distressing pain felt on taking a full respiration as ob- 

 tains in a case of acute rheumatism. The secondary 

 effects were very severe, continuing for nearly three- 

 quarters of an hour ; the duration of the pain being 

 probably longer, in consequence of the time and delay 

 occasioned by removing the exciting and virulent ten- 

 tacula from the skin, as they adhered to it, by the aid 

 of the stinging capsules, with an annoying degree of 

 tenacity. On the whole being removed, the pain began 

 gradually to abate ; but during the day a peculiar numb- 

 ness was felt, accompanied also by an increased tem- 

 perature in the limb upon which the stings had been 

 inflicted. For some hours afterwards the skin displayed 

 white elevations or wheals on the parts stung, similar 

 to those usually seen resulting from the poison of the 

 stinging-nettle. The intensity of the pain depends in 

 some degree upon the size and consequent power of the 

 creature ; and after it has been removed from the water 

 for some time, the stinging property, although still con- 

 tinuing to act, is found to have perceptibly diminished. 

 To remove the irritation, at first cold water was ap- 

 plied, but this, instead of alleviating, increased the 

 evil : an application of vinegar relieved the unpleasant 

 symptoms, and olive oil has produced a similar bene- 

 ficial effect. I have observed that this irritative power 



