CHAPTER XV 



VENOMOUS ANIMALS {conhnued)— PISCES 

 AND AMPHIBIA 



Pisces — Zoological classification — Geographical distribution — Poison by 

 bite — Poison b}' stings — Amphibia — References. 



PISCES. 



All over the world, but especially in tropical seas, there are fish 

 which for purposes of defence secrete poisonous fluids from special 

 glands. These fish have been but little studied, and still less is 

 known about the nature of their venom and its physiological action. 

 A great deal, however, is known by residents in the tropics about 

 wounds inflicted by these fish, and the doctor practising therein is 

 bound sooner or later to come across not merely persons who know 

 a good deal in a general way about the subject, but those who 

 either are suffering or have suffered from the poisoning. It is 

 therefore necessary that the tropical practitioner should have some 

 knowledge of venomous fish. 



The subject might be studied by classifying the fish zoologically, 

 and then taking them seriatim and describing their poison and its 

 effects; but though a zoological list will be given, this does not 

 seem so satisfactory as to follow Bottard in his special classification 

 based on the manner in which the fish inflicts the poison. 



Venomous fish may be classified into :■ — • 



Class L Fish which poison by their bite. 



Class IT Fish which poison by barbs (spines) connected 

 with special glands. 



Class in. Fish which poison by a secretion prepared by the 

 skin glands. This class is illustrated by the lamprey, 

 which is only known to produce poisoning when eaten. 



It will be understood from the above classification that venomous 

 fish are to be distinguished from poisonous fish — i.e., from fish 

 which cause symptoms of poisoning when their flesh is eaten — 

 for the flesh of venomous fish can be eaten with impunity. The 

 poisonous fish and their effects have been briefly described in 

 Chapter XIIL, p. 193, under the heading Poisonous Food. 



During the spawning season the quantity and the virulence of 

 the poison of venomous fish generally increase, and, indeed, some 



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