80 CLASS CONCHIFERA. 



The Mussel, although usually wholesome, is at times 

 the cause of severe, though temporary illness. Different 

 reasons have been assigned for this poisonous property, 

 and many signs have been noted, by which it is said the 

 unwholesome state of this shell- fish can be detected, — a 

 yellowness of colour, an extremely meagre appearance, 

 partial corruption, a diseased state of the animal, a small 

 orab or insect found between the valves of its shell. 

 Other observers have ridiculously attributed the effects 

 to the change in the phases of the moon ; but, if we are 

 to believe a French physician, who made many experi- 

 ments, all these guesses are wrong ; according to this 

 author, the ill-effects are caused only after the Mussels 

 have been feeding on the spawn of the star-fish; this 

 spawui appears to the eye merely a shapeless lump of 

 jelly, but after a few days it is a living mass of infant 

 star-fish. The time of the year during which this 

 spawn is cast, is from the end of April, or beginning of 

 May, to the end of July, or beginning of August; from 

 this, he says, ari^vjs the common observation, that Mus- 

 sels are only poisonous during those months in which 

 the letter r is not found. This spawn, according to our 

 author, is so venomous and caustic, that it causes great 

 pain, swelling, and inflammation, even to the hand, if 

 handled at this season ; the rubbing the part with vi- 

 negar is recommended as a cure. Small star-fish were 

 rolled up in other food, and given to dogs and cats, 

 when the animals suffered severely, and in the end 

 generally died. In spite, however, of all these experi- 

 ments, it is still doubtful whether the true cause has 

 been discovered. Thus much appears to be certain, 

 that whenever indigestion occurs after eating Mussels, 

 some ill effects are experienced, but this has seldom, or 



