The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-12-04
ANCIENT FISH CURES
MEDICINAL VIRTUES THAT USED TO
DECK THE FINNY TRIBE.
Perch Was Valued In Germany For
Its Curative Properties, and Carp
Was Held In High Esteem In Old
England-The Physician of Fishes,

England-The Physician of Fishes,
Fishing literature prior to the days
and writings. of IZaak Walton opens
up points of interest which are unique.
Not the least interesting are the con-
slant references Of the early writers to
the medicinal virtues Of fish. OF course
many of the salt and fresh water fish
es mentioned by the old writers are
not recognized in the waters of today,
but the fresh water perch, carp, tench
and eel are yet recognized. and it is in
connection with these fish that some
of the quaintest ideas as to their me-
dicinal virtues have prevailed.
The Germans have comparative
proverb which says, More wholesome
than perch of the Rhine" and it is
certain that from the earliest times
this familiar fish has been esteemed as
one of the best gastronomic produc-
tons of fresh water. 1t has also been
aScribed medicinal virtues. Gesner says
that physicians value the perch so
much that they recommend it to be
freely eaten by wounded men. women
in childbed and those suffering from
dangerous fevers. Aldrovandus praises
it and mentions that the two otooliths
Ground bones') found in the head of
the perch are marvelously good for
stone in the bladder.
That the carp was esteemed in olden
times in England is certain. Dame
Berners. writing in her quaint ''Trea
tysee of Eysshynge Myth an Angle"
published in 1906, says, '"The carpe be
a deyntous fish, but there ben few in
Englonge." Being "deyntous"--i. e.,
'dainty"-it must have been good fish
at that time to eat. 1t has certainly
lost its character since then.
In the art of healing the carp plays q
respectable part. One old writer speaks
of the fat of the carp as being of mi
raculous power for the alienation of
F'hOt rheumatism" The manner of its
application was by frequent rubbing
on the painful part, and the effect was
said to be eminently modifying and
salutary. The triangular bones in the
throat of the carp on being ground to
powder and applied to a wound or
bleeding nose were said to act as styp-
tic. The gall was also said to have
been used for sore eyes. and "above
the eyes, says an old 4Escuapius,
"two little bones exist, semicircular in
shape, which are diligently preserved
by noble females against the lunatical
disease"
In the Haven of Health" carp are
also comprised in 1.-THE ten sortes Of
fische which are reckoned as principal
in the preservation of health and,
adds the quaint old writer, this fish
is of great wholesomeness and great
value, and it's tongue is very pleasant
to carping ladies'"
A kind Of first cousin of the carp is
what is known as the barbel. Such
ancients as Juvenal, Albertus and 9th
ers of that ilk evidence that it was
known and esteemed by the Roman
gourmet. Plutarch mentions a curious
fact in it's natural history. DR.. Bad
ham in his "Prose Haleutics" trans
lates this passage as follows: "The roe
Of the barbel is very poisonous. Anto-
MO GaZius took two bOluses and thus
describes his sensations: AT first l felt
no inconvenience, but some hours hav-
ing elapsed l began to be disagreeably
affected, and as my stomach swelled
and could not be brought down by
anise and carminatives l was soon in a
state Of great depression and Distress :"
1t appears that his countenance was
pallid, like a man in a swoon. Deadly
GOODNESS ensued, and violent cholera
and vomiting came on. The barbel
(Barbus vulgaris) of today has survived
such poisonous qualities. Its flesh has
the taste of stewed white blotting pa
per, and it's roe is as innocuous as
bread pills.
All the same, good Julyana Berners
shared the bad opinion Of the earlier
writer's. She says: "The barbyll is a
swete fish. but it is quashy mete
and perylous for mannys bodye. For
comynly he ynyth an introduction to
We febris fever), and if We be eten
rave he may cause Of mannys dethe
whych hath often beene seene."
The tench which has been introduced
into some parts of this country is an
olive greenish carp which has been for
long time termed in England the ''phy-
sician Of fishes" According to a score
or more of authorities, ancient and
modern, the thick slime with which it
is covered exerts healing effect on all
wounds or diseases in which it can
come in contact on or in other fishes
Whence this belief originated is not
known, but one instance Of exact OBJ
servation is well worthy of credence.
Mr.. Wright in his book on "Fishes and
Fishing" tells how minnow acciden-
tally hooked in the water of an aqua
rum in which it was swimming on
breaking loose, Immediately descended
three parts of the way down the wa
ter and swiftly approached its nose to
the side of the tench which was its
companion in the aquarium. 1t rub
bed it's nose for few seconds against
tho fouoh onh fhoD lin SUoo ahOl1f