Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-11-24
Atexantlria o asettf,
TUESDAY EVENING. NOV. "a. Is,
VENOMOUS FISHES.

There are several species of fish
which possess poison like that of
snakes and have been known to
cause the death of man.
Their poison serves the double
purpose of causing the death of their
enemies and preserving their own
existence through the hesitation Of
other fish to touch them. The fish
so armed are, as q rule, conspicuous
by form and color, and their special
organ of defense consists of spines
which to them are what the tooth
is to serpents. These spines may be
simply a modification of existing
processes, such as prolongation of
the rays of fin, or may be a special
spine attached to some part of its
body. These spines have poison
gland in connection with them.
Two fish which are both very poi
sonous are found commonly on the
shores of the Mediterranean. These
fish are the sea dragon, trachinis
draco, having as members of the
same family trachinis vipera and
trachinis areneus, and the scorpHna
scropha, which has as correlatives
in different parts of the world scor-
pena porous, scorp9na truslutata,
soorpana diabolus, etc. These fish
are only poisonous as serpent is
poisonous e., by wounding Their
flesh is good and wholesome. Though
they differ widely in appearance,
yet the poison produces the same eff
feet.
The trachinis draco is % handsome
fish, striated with blue and brown,
and not unlike a trout in general
appearance Upon each of its gill
covers there is situated the spine in
connection with the special gland
This spine is grooved and Slightly
ereotile and is attached partly to the
jaw and partly to the undersurface
of the gill cover 1t passes through
the gill cover, where it shows as u
sharp point, the length varying with
the size of the fish The spine is Gov
cred with very fine membrane al
most to its free extremity, and this
mem brane converts the grooves on
the spine into little canals, which
open near the extremity of the spine
near the point. AT the base OF this
spine, upon the upper surface, lies
the poison gland, under the gill COW
or and partly covered by the adduc-
tor muscle of the gill cover, which
helps TO compress the gland, forcing
the fluid into the canals and at the
same time erect the spine. When the
spine enters another fish or animal,
its membrane is stripped back, and
the poison enters at once into the
wound.
The scorpnna scropha is an unat-
tractive looking fish. squat of body, |
large of head, red in color, having
many protuberanoes on its skin and
fins of an exaggerated character.
The fins are peculiar also in that the
rays project beyond the membrane.
Men, when bathing, are some.
times stung by these fish, but more
often in handling them When
caught. AT the moment of puncture
only the sharp prick is felt at the
place of contact with the spine In
q few minutes, however, the part
commences to burn and itch, and
then becomes aoutely painful, with
sudden stabbing pains. These pains
increase in violence and shoot from
the foot passing up the leg in light
ming darts, which force the person
to lie down and writhe. Then a feel
ing of suffocation is felt and pain
over the heart.-St Louis Post-Dis-
patch,
If Troubled with Rheumatism Read |
This. |,
ANNAPOLIS, Md, Apr 16, 1891
have used Cham berlain's Pain Balna for !
and found it to be all that |
is claimed for it. believe it to ne he
best preparation for rheumatism and
deep seated muscular pains on the mar
ket aud cheerfully recommend it to the !
public. JNo. G BROOKS, dealer in boots,
shoes, ETC., No. IS Maia st.
ALSO READ THIS.
Mechanicsville, st. Mary's County.
Md sold bottle of Chamberlain's
Pain Balm to man who had beer suf-
fering with rheumatism for several
years. l: made him we'll man. A. J.
McGILL. For sale at 50 cents Der bottle
by J. II. Janney, Druggist.
For several months. was troubled with
persistent humor on my hoaG which gave me
considerable annoyance, untl it occurred to
me to try Ayers Hair vigor. Before using one
bottle, the humor was heslcd."-T. 7. Ad;.ros.
General Merchant, Turbeville, Va.
DoAsTED CoFFEEs High grades of
10 Mocha Old Government, lava. Mara