BY HENRY TRION. 
4a 
slight degree of numbness and increased temperature of the 
arm. About two hours after I had been stung I perceived that 
a vesicle had arisen on the spot. ’ 
This, with the exception of some observations of Tilesius, 
quoted by Cuvier, is the only record of a precise observation met 
with by me, although the evil reputation of Physalia has reached 
my ears more than once in startling narrative. One of our 
members, however, Mr. H, G. Btobes, was once injured by a 
marine animal, which he is satisfied beyond the shadow of a doubt 
was a Portuguese Man-of-Vvar. This event, since it relates to 
a Queensland experience, may be not inappropriately described. 
He was bathing at Pialba in 1885, and the facts he relates (he 
has not read any of the Press accounts of the Cleveland adven- 
ture), regarding his encounter I’ender it again highly probable 
that the same kind of animal — ij', a Physalia — ’that assailed him 
was the one concerned in Mr. Moar’s case also. The parts of 
the body implicated were the left arm to across the chest. The 
mark produced was at first grayish-white, and this colour, after 
passing to fieiy red, became blue. It was persistent for some 
days. The following symptoms Avere those experienced. Firstly, 
a sudden shock, then an intense burning pain — in tbe parts 
“ stung ” — such as is produced by contact of a hot iron with the 
skin, nausea Avith inclination to vomit, chattering of the teeth, 
sliooting pains at the elboAV, inability to use tbe affected arm, 
and a general loss of power, which for some hours rendered all 
work quite impracticable. A lad, the son of a Pialba hotel- 
keeper, was also “ stung ” Avbilst bathing from the same sea 
beach four or five days subsequent to tbe above eA^ent. Being 
by himself, tbe lad’s cries attracted attention, and he was found 
on the shore in great agony, and unable to either Avalk or stand. 
Being carried to his home he in due course recovered, but a 
mark, similar to tlie one resulting from the accident in Mr. 
Stokes’s case, remained on his skin for some days. 
As has been already remarked in reference to Physalia, on 
the explosion of tbe urticating cells the tubes and their long attenu- 
ated filaments adhere to the body, which by contact has occasioned 
their discharge. It is reasonable, therefore, to expect to be able to 
detect vestiges of them on tbe injured skin whenever it is a Portu- 
