158 M. A. Duméril on Venomous Fishes. 
of this size, it is dreaded as often proving poisonous (MS. 
note by Plée in Cuv. & Val. t. ix. p. 440); and Thomas (of 
Salisbury) (Traité Méd. Prat., translated by H. Cloquet, t. 11. 
p- 648) says that all fishes exceeding the average dimensions 
are regarded with mistrust by the fishermen. 
ee 
The baneful properties would seem to be developed diversely, 
according to the season of the year. Thus, in the Loyalty 
‘Islands, as M. Jouan, captain of a frigate, has observed in a 
notice published by him relative to these islands (Mém. de la 
Soc. Impér. des Sc. Nat. de Cherbourg, t. xvii.), many species 
are dangerous, and even deadly, according to the time of the 
year at which they may have been taken. It often occurs, he 
says, that the natives poison themselves by partaking of fishes 
which at other seasons have been eaten with perfect impunity. 
In the Antilles many fishes, as the ‘ Petit Négre’ (Serranus 
nigriculus, ©. & V.) and others, should be avoided at certain 
periods of the year, in the same way that we cease to take 
oysters during the season of their reproduction. 
Tt is, indeed, at the time of spawning that we observe such 
species to become dangerous. The Conger or sea-eel, for in- 
stance, will occasion dysentery at the time of depositing its ova 
(Risso, Ichth. de Nice, p. 93). 
It is further known that the ova of the pike, barbel, and 
burbot are very efficient purgatives; and these fishes have more 
than once, when taken in the act of spawning, caused accidents 
due to the precaution having been omitted of completely clearing 
away both the organs and products of generation. Dr. Franque 
has published a curious observation relative to effects experienced. 
by four persons who had eaten the ova of the barbel, while 
others, who had rejected the ova but partaken of the flesh of the 
fish, felt no ill consequence (Journ. fiir Kinderkrankheiten, & 
Gaz. Méd. 1859, p. 526). 
VIL. 
To the different causes already enumerated we must now add, 
as holding an important place in the etiology of this subject, 
such alteration as may supervene in the tissues, and more parti- 
cularly in the flesh. How, in fact, otherwise shall we explain 
many very serious cases in which food, mode of capture, and 
such changes as are dependent upon age and season of the year 
have nothing to do with the effects produced ? 
Sometimes there is no cause whatever for apprehension ; 
sometimes, on the contrary, results would justify any amount of 
previous mistrust and circumspection. Thus the Becuna of the 
