Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-01-27
ANCIENT FISH CURES
MEDICINAL VIRTUES THAT USED TO
DECK THE FlNNY TRIBE. &c

Perch Was valued I'm Germany For
Its Curative Properties. and earn
Was Held I'm High Esteem I'm ola
Engiand-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 writer's to
the medicinal virtues OF dsh. or 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 il is in
connection with these fish that some
OF the quaintest ideas as to their me-
dicinal virtues have prevailed.
The Germans have a 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 or 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 20 be
freely eaten by wounded men. women
in childbed and those suffering from
dangerous fevers. Aldrovandus praises
il and mentions that the two otooIiths
Ground bones') found i'm 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 EysshynSe Myth an Angle"
published in 1896. says, THE carpe be
n deyntous fish. but there ben few i'm
Englonge." Being "deyutous"-i. O..
dainty must have been good fish
M that time 90 eat. Il has certainly
lost its character since then.
I'm the art Of healing the carp plays n
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 20 be cminently mollifyin. and
salutary. The triangular bones i'm the.
throat of the carp on being ground 10
powder and applied to Il wound or
bleeding nose were said 10 act as styp-
Tic. The gall was also said 10 have
been used for sore eyes. and above
the eyes" says an OLD .EsculapiuS.
two little bones exist. semicircular I'm
shape. which are diligently preserved
BY noble females against the lunatical
disease"
In the Haven 81 Health" carp arc
also comprised in "the ten Sortes OF
hsche which are rcckoned as PRINCIPAL
I'm the preservation Of health" and.
adds The quaint old writer. "this fish
Is OF great whole>0mcncss and great
value and its tongue IS very pleasant
TO carping ladies"
4 kind 81 first cousin OF the earn * \
what Is known as the barbel. such
ancieuts as Juveuai AlbertuS and 9th
ers 90 that iik evidence that il was
known ana esteemed 10y the Roman
gourmet. Plutarch mentions curious
fact I'm lis natural history. Or. Bad
ham In his Prose Halcutics" trans
latcS this passage as follows. The roe
OF The harbel is very poisonous. Anto-
MO GaZius took two boluses and thus
describes his sensations. At first / falt|
mo- Inconvenience. but some hours hav-
Ing elapsed / began 10 be dlsacreeably
affected. and as my stomach swelled
and could not be brought down bv
anlse and carminatives I was soon in a
state OF great depression and distress"
IL appears that his couutcnauce was
pallid, like man I'm a swoon. Deadly
GOODNESS cnsued. and violent cholera
and vomiting came on. Tho barbel
(BarhuS vulcariSl Of today has survived
such poisonous qualities. lis ncsb has
the taste of Stcwed white blottinc pa.
per- ami It's roc is as innocuouS rs
bread pills.
All tile Same. good Julyaua Bcrners
shared tie bad opinion Of tho earlier
writers. ShC says THE barbvu i =
SWete Dish. bur il is quashy mete
and perylou Tor maunyS bodye. For
comynly De myth an introduction 10
yo tebriS lfcver. ana II We bc eten
rave he may cause Of mannvS dethe
whych hath often beene scene"
The tcnch which has been introduced
into some parts Of this country is an
olive SrocniSh carp which has been for
long time termed IN England the ply
Slciau OF fishes" According 10 a score
or more OF authorities. ancient and
modern, tile thick slime with which il
is covered eNertS healing effect on an
wounds OF diseases i'm which il can
come i'm contact ON or in other fishes.
Whence this belief originated i pot