Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-02-17
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
Englnntl-Che 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 writer's 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-
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'D 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 Wyth an Angle"
published in 149G, says, 1.-THE carpe be
a deyntous fish, but there ben few in
Englonge." Being "deyntous"-i. e.,
"dainty"-it must have been a 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 alleviation 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 us styp-
tic. The gall was also said to have
been used for sore eyes, and "above
the eyes," says an old 1sculapius,
"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
lso comprised in. "the ten sortes of
nscne Which are reckoned as PTIhcIpa
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 a 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
MO Gazius took two boluses and thus
describes his sensations: 'At first I fell
no Inconvenience, but some hours hay
ing elapsed began to be disagreeablJ
affected, and as my stomach swelle6
and could not be brought down by
anise and carminatives was soon in c
state of great depression and Distress
1t appears that his countenance was
pallid, like man in q swoon. Deadly
coldness ensued, ana violent cholers
and vomiting came on. The barbe
(Barbus vulgaris) of today has survived
such poisonous qualities. Its flesh ha:
the taste Of stewed white blotting pa
per, and Its roe is US innocuous a.
bread pills.
All the same, good Julyana Berner'
| shared the bad opinion Of the earlier
writer's. She says: "The barbyll is {
swete fish, but it is quashy met,
and perylous for mannys bodye. Fo
comynly he ynyth an introduction t.
ye febris (fever), and II ye be ete1
rave he may cause of mannys deth'
whych hath often beene seene."
The tench which has been introduced
into some parts Of this country is NJ
olive greenish carp which has been fo
long time termed in England the ''phy
sician of fishes" According to scor'
or more of authorities, ancient ant
modern, the thick slime with which
is covered exerts healing effect on al
wounds or diseases in which 1T cal
come in contact on or in other fishes
Whence this belief originated is no
known, but one instance of exact oh
servation is well worthy of credence
Mr.. Wright in his book on "Fishes ant
Fishing" tells how minnow acciden
tally hooked in the water Of an aqua
rum In which it was swimming, OF
breaking loose, Immediately descended
three parts of the way down the wa
ter and swiftly approached its nose t
the side of the tench which was it
/ SoA1puhAOA Al lhV AAdStA ~ = w
bed its nose for few seconds agains
the tench and then again swan abou
as lively as before. To this testimo
ny Mr.. Wright adds: 1--WE (my frien'
and who We're watching the perform
ance) were both of the opinion that
is really no fable us to the tench bein
the Esculapius of fishes, for here wa
an example before our eyes of fisl
being wounded and Immediately in
stinct directing it to seek II remedy"
One piscatorial truth is known to n
who fish for pike or pickerel. The pix
(esoxlucius) will ravenously seize n
his prey the fly of almost every fist
including his own species, and all th
bait minnows are also caviare to hin
but he will not touch the tench.-
Brooklyn Eagle.
Curious Mode Of Catching Turtle
A curious mode of catching turtle
ia Dracticed in the West Indies