Evening star., 1951-07-04
Poisonous Fish Of World
Studied by Navy Doctors
800 venomous Species Known
In Pucific Ocean Alone
By Thomos R. Henry

The Navy is sponsoring an intensive
study Of poisonous and venomous fish
over the world.
This is one Of the most complex OF
medical problems and an important one
for naval medicine. The fact that the
flesh Of some fishes is q deadly poison
long has been recognized but little prog
ress has been made In differentiating
species or the conditions under which
the poisoning takes place.
There are. it is estimated, more than
800 species Of poisonous fishes in the
Central Pacific. Each varies somewhat In
its effects. Much better known is the
fish poisoning of the Caribbean area.
which is less serious and seldom actu-
ally fatal.
A report on the research to date has
just been made by DR.. Bruce w. Hal
stead. who is in charge Of the project.
The Importance to the Navy is empha-
sized by the fact that there were several
serious outbreaks during the war In the
Pacific.
There are delicate distinctions to be
made. Two varieties Of a species, super
fcially indistinguishable, for example.
may show enormous differences In their
poisonous effects. Virulence differs by
locality and season.
Worst Form In Pacific.
BY far the worst form is the so-called
tetradon poisoning, due to the puffer or
balloon fish Of the Pacific. Victims usu-
ally die within five hours after eating its
flesh. Some puffers. however. not only
are not poisonous but are treasured by
epicureans. Recent tests have shown
that species which is deadly poison
in one locality is completely harmless in
another not many miles away. Still
there are more than 20 deaths in Japan
every year from eating puffers.
The clinical picture Of fish poisoning
is bizarre, but the appearance Of certain
symptoms is surprisingly constant. One
of the first to develop Is tingling about
the lips and tongue. This soon spreads
to the hands and feet and gradually
develops into numbness. These symp-
toms may appear Immediately or at any
time within 80 hours.
In addition, nausea, vomiting and in
testinal pain seem to be present in rs per
cent Of cases. Later nerve symptoms
may appear, such as inco-ordination Of
movements, muscular weakness, paraly-
sis, irritability and convulsions. Victims
also often complain of choking SEN
sation, joint aches. intensive itching.
and transient blindness.
One Of the most striking symptoms Is
that In which the temperature sensa-
tions of the individual are reversed.
Hot objects seem cold to the touch and
cold objects hot. Patients complain Of
the same phenomenon in drinking hot
or cold fluids.
Victims have been observed blowing
on ice cream in order to cool it. This
singular disturbance has been reported
for the last $50 years. No other sub
stance yet has been found which viii
produce it. an
'Loose-Tooth Sensation"
The "loose-tooth sensation" also is
complains that his teeth are loose, al
though examination shows them al
solidly in place as ever.
Recovery from severe attack usually
is very gradual, with weakness some
after the specific symptoms have dis
appeared. One attack does not give
immunity. There is no antidote or anti
toxin known at present.
Fish poisoning, Dr.. Halstead says. is
a distinct clinical entity from other
types of food poisoning with which it is
likely to be confused. It is due to some
chemical which is not bacterial in origin.
- Reports on the occurrence of the dis
ease at different seasons are conflicting.
A few species appear to be most toxic
during the reproductive period, but ap-
parently this is not true of most fishes.
The first case to be described in
medical literature was in 1880. and re-
ports have been sporadic ever since.
There is some evidence, however. that
there has been an increase since the
war. This is possibly due to contamina-
ton Of the sea waters by naval operation
in certain localities.