M.A. Duméril on Venomous Fishes. 157 
laris, Linn.), these, after rapidly undergoing the destructive in- 
fluences of the plant, were eaten without ill effect, and the 
natives even drank the waters of the lake with impunity*. 
V. 
Among the causes of the unwholesomeness of certain species 
we should perhaps mention, as exercising some influence on 
their qualities, the age and, by consequence, the size of the fish; 
for the most venomous may generally be submitted to culinary 
preparation while they are still young. The accuracy of this 
statement, which might seem somewhat singular, is attested by 
the fact that, at Havana, it is not forbidden to expose for sale 
in the market the Caranz fallax, Cuv. & Val., unless it weighs 
more than one kilogramme. In the island of Trinidad, as Dr. J. 
Court, who practised medicine there for some time, informs me, 
the Becuna or Sphyrena may be eaten with impunity if still of 
small size. He adds that the same rule applies to all the fishes 
held to be venomous: when they have not attained their full 
dimensions, there is nothing to dread from using them as food. 
The natives of Hayti hold the same opinion with respect to a 
Serranus (S. rupestris, Cuv. & Val.), there commonly called 
‘Grande gueule,’ and designated also by the English name of 
Rock-fish. This fish may attain a length of 0-80; but when 
* M. Mouchon, junr. (Journal de Méd. prat. de Bordeaux, 2° sér. 1840, 
t. xii. p. 152) gives two lists of plants which are known to be employed as 
such auxiliaries in the capture of fishes. These lists have been reproduced 
by MM. A. Chevallier and Duchesne (Mém. sur les Empoisonnements par 
les Huitres ...et par certains Poissons, p.59; Ann. d’Hyg. et Méd. Lég., 
1851, t. xlv.) :— 
___I, Plants that are baneful in effect upon the human species, particularly 
if the precaution be not taken of well clearing and scraping the fish be- 
fore preparing it for food:—1. Cocculus suberosus, DeCand., Coque du 
Levant: the fruits. 2. Delpkinium staphisagria, Linn. : the seeds. 3. D. 
Requienii, DeCand.: the seeds. - 4. Hydnocarpus inebrians, Vahl: the 
Fruit. 5. Menispermum lacunosum, Lamarck: the fruit. 6. Taxus bac- 
cata, Linn.: the leaves. 7. Veratrum sabadilla, Retzius : the capsules. 
Il. Plants that are not hurtful to man :—1. Barringtonia speciosa, Rum- 
phius, Butonica speciosa, Lam.: the almonds eaten by the Chinese sailors 
under the name of “square caps.” 2. Calophyllum inophyllum, Lam. : 
affords the “ Calaba” balm used for poisoning fishes. 3. Cerbera ahouat, 
Lam.: the wood. 4. Daphne fetida, Lam.: the seeds. 5. Euphorbia 
cotinifolia, Linn.: the entire plant. 6. Galega sericea, Thunb. : the root. 
7. G. toxicaria, Sw.: the leaves. 8. Lepidium piscidium, Forster: the 
leaves and the seeds. 9. Paullinia pinnata, Linn.: the seeds. 10. P. tri- 
ternata, Linn., Serjania lethalis, St. Hil., “ Liane a persil,”’ “Timbo” of 
Brazil: the leaves. 11. Phyllanthus brasiliensis, Lam., P. conami, Wild., 
Poison-wood : the twigs with leaves and the roots bruised. 12. P. virosus, 
Roxburgh: the shoots and leaves pounded. 13. Piscidia carthaginensis, 
Linn. : twigs and foliage crushed together. 14. Potalia amara, Aublet : 
the stems and leaves. 15. Robinia nicou, Aubl., or R. scandens, Wilden. 
