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M. A. Duméril on Venomous Fishes. 159 
Antilles (Sphyrena becuna, Lacép.), which is a very savoury fish, 
is, however, eaten with considerable caution, on account of its 
often proving venomous; but when the roots of the teeth are 
not black, according to M. Poey’s remark (Cuv. & Val. t. iii. 
_p. 341), or when a silver spoon or coin, placed in the vessel in 
which the fish is being cooked, does not become blackened, the 
flesh may be eaten without fear *. 
In the same category must be ranged the great Sphyrena 
(S. barracuda, Cuv. & Val.), sometimes named Esox barracuda, on 
account of its resemblance to the pike, both as regards its general 
form and the quality of its flesh. It is very often poisonous ; 
and the tests employed are the same as in the case of the Be- 
cuna, a peculiar bitterness of the liver, however, being an addi- 
tional sign in the case of this fish. 
There is a belief in the Antilles that this fish becomes poisonous 
as a consequence of certain conditions of alimentation. How- 
ever, according to MS. observations of Plée, reproduced by 
Cuvier (Hist. Poiss. t. ili. p. 346), “its venomous properties are 
due to a particular condition of the individual, which would 
seem to recur at different periods.” 
“Tf, on cutting it, a white watery fluid or matter, which is a 
certain sign of malady, be not seen to issue,” it may be eaten 
with perfect safety. 
“ When salted,” adds Plée, “it never produces any ill effects. 
At Ste. Croix it is customary to defer eating it until the day after 
that on which it has been subjected to the action of the salt.” 
Dr. Guyon, Sanitary Inspector of troops at Martinique, has 
expressed an opinion similar to that of Plée, in a MS. memoir 
which he has kindly communicated to me, and of which the 
‘Comptes Rendus Ac. Sc.’ 1856, t. xli. p. 340, have given only 
an extract referring to the symptoms attending the phenomena 
of poisoning. According to him, the real cause is a commence- 
- ment of decay in the flesh of the fish. 
Knowing the rapidity with which, in hot climates, a certain 
modification of tissue, not actually amounting to putrefaction, 
will set in (some species being, no doubt from various causes at 
present hidden from us, more particularly exposed to such modi- 
cation than others), we can easily understand that such dire 
results should so frequently occur. 
In support of this opinion, which I also share, M. Guyon 
alleges the following facts :— 
* Thomas (Joc. cit. p. 648) says, however, that implicit confidence 1s not 
to be placed in this as a preventive measure. He says that a surer method 
is that of giving to a duck, a cat, or a dog the intestines of the fish, which 
may be eaten with perfect security if, after an hour or two, no accident 
shall have happened to the animal. 
