10 EFFECTS OF THE STING. 



similar at first to that produced by the nettle ; 

 but before a few minutes had elapsed, a violent 

 aching pain succeeded, affecting more severely 

 the joints of the fingers, the stinging sensation 

 at the same time continuing at the part first 

 touched by the acrid fluid. On cold water being 

 applied, with the intention of removing or lessen- 

 ing the pain, it was found rather to increase 

 than diminish the eifects. The irritation result- 

 ing from the poisonous fluid emitted by the 

 animal extended upwards, increasing in extent 

 and severity, (apparently acting along the course 

 of the nerves,) and in the space of a quarter of 

 an hour, the efl'ect in the fore-arm (more parti- 

 cularly felt at the inner part) was very violent, 

 and at the elbow-joint still more so. It may 

 be worthy of remark, that when the joints be- 

 came affected the pain always increased. It 

 became at last almost unbearable, and was much 

 heightened on the afl'ected arm being moved ; 

 the pulse of that arm was also much accelerated, 

 and an unnatural heat was felt over its whole 

 surface. The pain extended to the shoulder- 

 joint ; and on the pectoral muscle becoming- 

 attacked by the same painful sensation, an op- 

 pression of breathing was occasioned, which we 

 find similarly produced by rheumatism, when it 

 attacks that muscle ; and it proved very dis- 



