194 FOOD POISONINO. 



(1) Of this class Synanceia brachio is a type and has its poison ap- 

 paratus in the dorsal fin, consisting of thirteen barbs, each of which 

 has two poison reservoirs. Each of the twenty-six reservoirs is 

 supplied with ten or twelve tubular glands, the secretion of which 

 is a clear, bluish, feebly acid fluid. Undiluted, this solution causes 

 local gangrene ; diluted, it induces paralysis. In Plotosus lanceatus 

 in front of the ventral fin there is a hollow barb with closed end, 

 connected with a poison reservoir, and the fluid flows only when the 

 barb is broken, (2) Trachinus draco is a typical example of this 

 class. The apparatus of Cottus scorpio and C. bubalis also is of 

 this kind. There are three hollow barbs on the gill cover and the 

 reservoirs connected with this secrete a poison only during the 

 spawning season. (3) Thalassophryne reticulata has two hollow 

 barbs, one on the gill cover and the other on the back. (4) Murena 

 helena has on the gills an open pocket, the walls of which are lined 

 with cells secreting a poison that moistens the teeth. (5) Scorpena 

 scropha and S. porcus have open poison glands connected with hol- 

 low barbs set in the dorsal and ventral fins. Chemically nothing is 

 known of the nature of these poisons ; pharmacologically it has been 

 demonstrated that they cause severe inflammation of the subcuta- 

 neous tissue. 



Trachinus draco, ordinarily known as the "dragon-weaver" or 

 " sea-weaver," is one of the best known of the fish possessed of 

 poisonous barbs. The varieties of this species are widely distributed 

 in salt waters. It is a handsome fish, somewhat resembling the 

 trout, and marked with blue and brown stripes. While bathing, 

 men sometimes wound their feet with the barbs of this fish which 

 lies half buried in the sand. It also happens that fishermen some- 

 times incautiously prick their fingers with these barbs. Almost im- 

 mediately there are knife-like pains felt about the wound and these 

 quickly extend over the body. Cardialgia may be most excruciat- 

 ing and there is a sensation of suffocation. The forehead is covered 

 with profuse cold perspiration, and the heart becomes weak and beats 

 intermittently. Pain and terror combine to render the condition 

 agonizing to the attendant. Convulsions with mild delirium come 

 on and finally death, occasionally from exhaustion, supervenes. 

 This is the history of a severe case, but ordinarily the symptoms are 

 less grave, and severe local pain accompanied by oedema and fol- 

 lowed by gangrene are the results. Some experiments with the 

 poison have been made on the lower animals, especially on rabbits 

 and guinea-pigs. If the thigh of one of these animals be pierced 

 with the barb of one of these fish there is a cry of pain and soon 

 the limb begins to twitch. The entire body may be involved in 

 convulsive movements, which resemble those due to strychnin, inas- 

 much as they are intensified by touching the animal. Hespiration 

 usually becomes difficult, and paralysis of the posterior extremities 



