The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-11-04
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,
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 coII-
slant references Of the early writer's TO
the medicinal virtues Of fsh. OF course
many Of the salt and fresh water fish
es mentioned by the old writer's 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 a 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-
tions 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 Urea
tysee of Eysshynge Wyth an Angle"
published in 1896, says, "The carpe be
a deyntous fish. but there ben few in
Englonge." Being "deyntous"-i. e.,
'dainty"-it must have been good fish
ut that time to eat. 1t has certainly
lost it's character since then.
In the art Of bealing the carp plays
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
salutary. The triangular bones in the
throat of the carp on being ground to
powder and applied to 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 lEsculapius.
''two little bones exist, semicircular in
shape, which are diligently preserved
by noble females against the lunatcal
disease
In the "T1aven 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
is of great wholesomeness and great
value, and its 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 in its natural history. DR.. Bad
ham 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 sensa tons: AT first felt
no inconvenience, but some hours haV-
ing elapsed l began to be disagreeaoly
affected. and as my stomach sWelled
and could not be brought down Dy
anise and carminatives 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 barber
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: 1.-The barbyll is
swete fish. but it is quashy mete
and perylous for mannys bodye. For
comynly he ynyth an Introduction to
We febris (feyer). and if ye be eten
rave he may cause Of mannys dethe
WINCH 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 ply