VEGETABLE POISONS. 211 



first felt in the face, is extended over the whole 

 body, but more frequently to the palms of the 

 hands and soles of the feet; and is often suc- 

 ceeded by an eruption, or efflorescence rising up 

 in large bumps similar to bug bites, or the nettle 

 rash. The pulse is usually hard and frequent 

 at first, but soon becomes low and feeble. With 

 the ardor of the skin, there is invariably a prick- 

 ing sensation in the hands when immersed in 

 cold water, which leading symptom will always 

 enable us to decide with confidence on the 

 disease. In the advanced stage of the dis- 

 ease, I observed that the whole surface of the 

 body acquired a deep yellow hue as in the 

 jaundice, and that even the perspiration gave 

 a deep yellow stain to the linen. This hap- 

 pened particularly in my own case, as I was 

 so unfortunate once to experience the delete- 

 rious effects of a poisonous rock fish. When a 

 large quantity of the fish has been taken, or the 

 fish has been of so deadly a nature as to prove 

 fatal, the patient generally goes off in strong con- 

 vulsions ; but when the quantity and nature of 

 the fish have not been so powerful as to occasion 

 death, and the violence of the disorder suffers 

 some abatement, the body becomes emaciated, 

 the cuticle peels off in various parts, but more 

 particularly in the palms of the hands and soles of 

 the feet, the hair drops, and acute shooting pains 

 in the articulations of the wrists, knees, and 



