POISONOUS FISH. 1 1 



has tested dead and decomposed mussels taken 

 IV.. in the (tpen sea for mytilotoxine, with negative results. 



s OYSTERS AND EELS. PAS^U-IKI: reported 

 < :i-es of poisoning at Havre from the eating of oysters 

 taken from an artificial bed which had been established 

 near the outlet of a drain from a public water-closet. 

 CHRLSTISON says that an " unusual prevalence of colic, 

 diarrlnea, and cholera" at Dunkirk was believed to have 

 been traced to an importation of unwholesome oysters from 

 the Normandy coast. VAUGHAN and Now obtained 

 tests for tyrotoxicon in the liquor of some decomposed 

 oysters which had caused illness in many people at a church 

 festival. 



YIUKY states that many persons were attacked with 

 violent pain and diarrlm'a a few hours after eating a pate 

 made of eels from a stagnant cattle-ditch near Orleans, 

 also that similar cases have occurred in various parts of 

 France, and that domestic animals have been killed by 

 eating the remains of the poisonous dish. 



POISONOUS FISH. While many species offish are popu- 

 larly regarded as poisonous, but little scientific work has 

 been done in this line, and we are not prepared to say to 

 what extent this popular idea is correct. MruRA and 

 T \KKSAKI find that the ripe ovaries of tctrodon mhrlfn-x 

 contain a substance which induces in rabbits acceleration 

 of the respiratory movements, paralysis of the skeletal 

 muscles, mydriasis, increased peristalsis of the intestines, 

 and arrest of the heart. 



The disease known as " kakke," which prevails from 

 May to October in Tokio is, according to MIUIJA and 

 others, an intoxication due to the eating of fish, which be- 

 long to the 8conibri<i(c. The affection is generally chronic 

 or subacute, seldom acute. The most characteristic symp- 

 tom is paralysis of the diaphragm with consequent dysp- 

 nn-a and disturbance of the action of the heart. Kleetri- 

 eal stimulation of the diaphragm ha-; proven to l>e the 

 most successful treatment. 



