The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-11-05

That the carp was esteemed in olden
times in England is certain. Dame
Berners, writing in her quaint Urea
tysee Of Eysshynge Wyth an Angle"
published in 1896, says, 1.-The carpe be
a deyntous fish, but there ben few in
Englonge." Being "deyntous"-i e..
"daint"-it must have been good fish
at that time to eat. It has certainly
lost its character since then.
In the art Of healing the carp plays a
respectable part. One old writer speaks
Of the fat Of the carp as being Of mi
raculous power for the alienation Of
''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
satutary. 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 Esculapius.
1.-TWO little bones exist, semicircular In
shape, which are diligently preserved
by noble females against the lunatcal
disease"
In the Haven Of Health" carp are
Also comprised in 'the ten sortes OF
fsche which are reckoned as principal
in the preservation Of health" and.
adds the quaint old writer, this fish
ts 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 curious
fact TN its natural history. DR.. Bad
BAN In his prose Haleutics" trans
lates this passage as follows: "The roe
OF the barbel is very poisonous Anto-
nio Gazius took two boluses and thus
describes his sensat lions: At first ! felt
no Inconvenience, but some hours hav-
ing elapsed began to be disagreeably
affected, and as my stomach swelled
and could not be brought down by
anise and carminattves I was soon In
state Of great depression and distress
1t appears that his countenance was
pallid, like a man in swoon. Deadly
coldness ensued, and violent cholera
and vomiting came on. The barbei
Barbus vulgariS Of today has survived
such poisonous qualities. Its flesh has
the taste Of stewed white blottng pa
per, and its roe Is as tnnocuous as
bread pills.
All the same, good Julyana Berners
shared the bad opinion Of the earlier
writer's. She says: 1.-The barbyu Is
swete fish, but It is quashy mete
and perylous for mannys bodye. For
comynly he ynyth an introduction to
ye febris (fevep, and II ye be eten
rave be may cause Of mannys dethe
whych hath often beene scene"
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.
sidan 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 it's nose to
the side Of the tench which was It's
companion in the aquarium. 1t rub
bed its nose for few seconds against
the tench and then again swan about
as lively as before. TO this testmo-
ny Mr.. Wright adds: I'VE (my friend
and who were watching the perform
ance) were both Of the opinion that It
is really DO fable as to the tench being
the Esculapius Of fishes, for here was
an example before our eyes Of a fish
being wounded and Immediately in
stnct directing It to seek remedy"
One piscatorial truth is known to all
who fish for pike or piekerel. The pike
(esoxlucius) will ravenously seize as
his prey the fry Of almost every fsh,
including his own species, and all the
bait minnovs are also caviare to him,
but be win not touch the tenca.-
Brooklyn Eagle. xs..ssEa