Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-10-27
ANCIENT FISH CURES
MEDICINAL VIRTUES THAT USED TO
DECK THE FlNNY 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
md writings of Izaak Walton opens
up points of interest which are unique.
Not the least interesting are the con-
slant references of the early writer's TO
the medicinal virtues of fish. or 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 1t Is In
connection with these fish that some
of the auaintcst ideas as to their me-
dicinal virtues have prevailed.
The Germans have comparative
proyerb which says, More wholesome
than perch of the Rhine" and II 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
oscribed medicinal virtues. Gesner says
that physicians value the perch so
much that they recommend 1t TO De
freely eaten by wounded men, women
in clildbed and those suffering from
dangerous fevers. Aldrovandus praises
II and mentions that the two otoollths
Ground bones') found in the head or
the perch are marvelously good Tor
stone in the bladder.
That the carp was esteemed in olden
times in England is certain. Dame
Berncrs, writing in her quaint Urea
tysec of Eysshynge Myth an Angle
published in 1896, says, "The carpe be
a deyntous fish, but there ben few in
Enclonge" Being "deyntous"|. e.
"dalnty"-it must have been good hsil
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
raculovs power for the alienation OF
"lot rheumatism" The manner or lts
application was by frequent rubbing
on the painful part. and the effect was
said to be eminently notifying ano
salutary. The triangular bones in tho
throat of the carp on being ground t(
powder and applied to Il wound OF
bleeding nose were said to act as styp
tic. The gall was also said to have
,;ccn used for sore eyes. and "aoov'
the eyes" says an old Asculapius
two little bones exist, semicircular II
shane. which are diligently preserved
| Dv noble females against the lunatca
| disease"
In the Haven of Health" carp ar
also comprised in "the ten sortes O
Gsche which are rcckoned as principa
in the preservation of health" and
adds the quaint old writer. this fisl
is of great wholesomeness and grea
value. and its tongue is very pleisan
to carping ladies'"
| A kind of first cousin of the carp j
what Is known us the barbel. Sucl
oncients as Juvenal. Albertus and 9th
ers of that ilk evidence that it wa
known and esteemed by the Romal
gourmet. Plutarch mentions a curiou
fact in its natural history. DR.. Bad
ham in his prose Haleutics' trans
lates this passage us follows: "The no
of the barbel is very poisonous. Ante
MO GaZius took two boluses and thu
describes his sensations: AT first fel
no Inconvenience, but some hours nav
ing elapsed | began to be disagreeaDl
affected, and as my stomach swelle'
and could not be brought down b.
lanise and carminatives | was soon In
state of great depression and Distress
II appears that his countenance wa
pallid, like a man in swoon. Deadl
GOODNESS ensued, and violent choler
and vomiting came on. The barDe
Barbus vulgarisJ of today has survive
such poisonous qualities. Its flesh ha
the taste of stewed white blotting pa
per. and it's roe Is as innocuous
bread pills.
| All the same, good Julyana Berner
shared the bad opinion of the earle
writer's. She says: "The barbyll is
swete fish, but it is quashy met
and perylous for mannys bodye. Flo
comynly he ynyth an introduction
We febris Gever), and if ye be etc
rave he may cause Of mannys deth
whych hath often beene seene.'
The tench which has been Introduce
into some parts of this country Is a
olive greenish carp which has been 70
long time termed in England the "phJ
sician of fishes" According to scor
or more of authorities. ancient an
modern, the thick slime with which
is covered exerts healing effect on a
wounds or diseases in which 1t ca
come in contact on or in other fishes
Whence this belief originated Is nc
known, but one instance OF exact oil
servation is well worthy Of credenc'
Mr.. Wright in his book on "Fishes an
Fishing" tells how minnow accider
tally hooked in the water of an aquf
rum in which 1t was swimming. o
breaking loose, Immediately dcscende
three parts of the way down the We
ter and swiftly approached its nose I
the side of the tench which was II
companion Ia the aquarium. 1t rut
bed its nose for q few seconds agains
the tench and then again swan abor
ms lively as before. TO this testim'
ny Mr.. Wright adds: I'VE (my frien
and / who were watching the perform
ance) were both Of the opinion that
! is really no fable as to the tench bein
J the .Esculapius of fishes. for here wa
an example before our eyes Of fis
being wounded and Immediately IL
stinct directing it to seek Il remedy
One piscatoral truth is known to a
who fish for pike or pickerel. The pix
(esoxlucius) will ravenOusly seize Q
his prey the fry of almost every tis
, Including his own species, and all IL
bait minnows are also caviare to hin
but he will not touch the tench.