TERRORS OF THE SEA 



By HARRY B. BRADFORD 



1EFORE many weeks 

 have passed those 

 who are fond of 

 bathing and swim- 

 ming will seek the 

 sea, or bay shore, 

 in pursuit of their 

 favorite pastime. 



Probably few 

 swimmers, even of 

 limited experience, 

 have failed to become acquainted with 

 the sea-netttle or jelly-fish, in a way 

 to make them ever remember it. 



The common jelly-fish with a mush- 

 room-like body, from the under part of 

 which extend long streamers or -tenta- 

 cles, appears in great numbers on our 

 coasts and bay shores about August. It 

 is then that the swimmer's pastime is 

 turned into pain, if he happens to come 

 in contact with one or more of these 

 harmless looking Medusae. 



It is practically impossible for a 

 swimmer to detect these scourges of the 

 sea, especially in rough water, as most 

 swimmers hold the head well into the 

 water. In using the "breast stroke," 

 however, they may be occasionally ob- 

 served in time to avoid them. 

 . A breeze from the sea or bay usually 

 blows them shoreward, and at such 

 times the bather does well to remain 

 out of the water, for this is in truth an 

 "ill wind'' which, in this case, as many 

 can testify, certainly blows "no good." 

 At low tide I have often seen several 

 jelly-fish, some with bodies as large 

 around as a breakfast plate, sLanded 

 between the stones, and left by the tide 

 to dry up in the sun, along the Narra- 

 gansett shores. 



Only the long streamers or tenacles 

 are venomous, and one may take them 

 carefully with the hand as they float 



aimlessly about a boat or raft, and 

 throw them upon the beach. 



A favorite swimming locality I have 

 often helped clear in this way. 



A bathing suit protects one from the 

 sting, but when a bare portion of the 

 skin comes in contact with the slimy 

 streamers, there is instantly felt a sharp 

 burning sensation, which rapidly in- 

 creases in severity, becoming inflamed, 

 and feels like a burn from a lamp for 

 from four to six hours or longer. 



On reading that the juice of a lemon 

 was the best remedy for these stings, 

 and if rubbed on very soon after con- 

 tact w r ould alleviate the pain, I brought a 

 lemon down to the shore, placing it on 

 a conspicuous, large rock, where I could 

 apply it quickly. 



I had a chance to judge of its efficacy 

 very shortly, as I hadn't swum one hun- 

 dred feet before a jelly-fish's tentacles 

 partly wound around my wrist. Rapid 

 strokes were made shoreward and the 

 remedy applied, but the pain was in no 

 way relieved, so no lemon was brought 

 to the shore for that purpose again. 



The inflammation and pain became 

 so intense that later at dinner I had to 

 leave the table soon after being seated, 

 and retire to "scratch" and rub the 

 burning wrist and forearm. 



A lady kindly handed me a little bot- 

 tle of camphor, which seemed to help 

 matters, then some alcohol was added 

 to make more liniment, and I was 

 greatly rejoiced to have the pain leave 

 instantly. 



So a mixture of camphor and alcohol 

 ever after was my remedy, and it never 

 failed to relieve instantly. 



The proportions which were used I 

 cannot tell, but probably about equal 

 parts. 



A doctor who saw such immediate 



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