VENOMOUS FISH 



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genera— ^.g., Cottus — are only venomous at that time. Poisonous 

 glands, being protective, occur more commonly in weak and small 

 rather than in large fish, hence they are more frequent in bony 

 than in cartilaginous fish, which latter are usually of large size. 

 Venomous fish are often conspicuous by form or colour. 



Historical.— The history of our knowledge of venomous fish has 

 been well written by Faust, who points out that it was Aristotle, 

 the Father of Ichthyology, who first established the fact that fish 

 could produce poisoned wounds, and that after his day informa- 

 tion on this subject appears to have been very uncertain, and 

 doubts were cast upon the facts ascertained by him. Modern 

 knowledge began in 1841 by AUman writing a paper on the stinging 

 properties of the lesser weaver (Trachinus viper a), which, he said 

 with all reservation, was probably due to a poison-gland at the 

 base of the opercular valve. Further researches were made by 

 Byerley in 1849, Giinther from 1864 to 1881, Corre 1865-81, Gressin 

 1884, and Savtschenko, who produced his excellent atlas in 1886. 

 It is, however, Bottard, in his thesis on ' Les Poissons Venimeux ' 

 in 1889, who first gave a clear account of these fish, and he has been 

 followed by Courtiere in 1899, Briot in 1902-04, and Evans in 1907. 

 The nature of the poison or poisons, and its or their physiological 

 effects, still require considerable research. 



Effects of the Poison. — As far as investigations have gone, it 

 appears as though the venoms of the different fish only varied 

 quantitatively, and not qualitatively. The effects are local and 

 general. The local effects consist in painful sensations, swelling of 

 the part, which may spread over the whole limb, suppuration, and 

 even gangrene. The general symptoms appear to be due in the 

 first instance to the action of the venom on the central nervous 

 system, which shows itself in excitation, and later insensibility and 

 paralysis. An action on cardiac muscle has also been recorded. 

 In man death has been known to occur from wounds of Synanceia 

 brachio. 



Persons Chiefly Affected. — ^The persons chiefly affected by the 

 venom are cooks and fishermen, but the latter are well aware of the 

 danger. 



Diagnosis. — Diagnosis is to be obtained by the history of the 

 injury. 



Prognosis. — ^This is usually good, but prompt treatment is 

 needed. 



Treatment, — The treatment of a poisonous wound due to a fish 

 must be based upon the following principles: — 



1. Prevent as far as possible the poison entering the general 



circulation, 



2. Neutralize the poison as far as possible locally. 



3. Treat the general symptoms. 



I. Prevent the Poison entering the General Circulation. — The wound 

 will usually be on an arm or a leg, and therefore it will be quite 



