328
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
7. Hallucinatory fish poisoning
This type of poisoning is characterized by central nervous systeni
signs and symptoms, and by the lack of gastrointestinal manifestations.
It has occurred following the ingestion of certain mullet and surmullet
(goatfish). Among the species reported to have caused this poisoning
are : Mugil cephalus L., Neomyxus chuptalli (Eydoux and Souleyet),
Paraupeneus chryserydros (LacBpBde), and Upeneus arge Jordan and
Evermann. Reports of poisonings have been filed in the tropical
Pacific and Hawaii (Jordan et al., 1927 ; Fish and Cobb, 1954 ; Helfrich
and Banner, 1960).
These fishes appear to be toxic only in certain specific areas and only
during certain times of the year, usually June, July and August.
Unfortunately a systematized collecting program of these fishes from
an endemic area does not appear to have been made, thus it is difficult
to predict just when the fish will become toxic. Helfrich and Banner
(1963) were unable to produce the poisoning with seventy-five of the
above fishes taken on Kauai and Molokai during July and August of
1959. Our own group failed to find any toxin in 123 specimens of
Upeneus arge taken near Hanalei Bay on Kauai during August and
September of 1961. One hundred additional specimens collected
between Haena and Anahola on the sa,me island during 1961 also
proved to be non-poisonous.
In 1961, several fishermen on Kauai informed me that only the head
of the goatfish was toxic, and that the body could be eaten with
impunity. However, other fishermen stated that the body was equally
as toxic. The former contention appears to have been handed down
from the reports of Dr. Nils Larsen (Jordan et al., 1927) of Queen’s
Hospital in Honolulu, who fed the brain of a goatfish, “ weke pahala ”
to a cat which ‘‘ at once went crazy, but recovered, as in fact, all cases
soon recover.” This story is well known among fishermen in the
Hawaiian Archipelago and no doubt has influenced some reports on
this problem. As noted by Helfrich and Banner (1963), boiling, frying
or steaming does not appear to affect the poison.
Nothing is known of the chemistry or toxicology of this poison.
However, the symptomatology in the human cases so far reported
would seem to indicate that the offending substance is different from
that responsible for ciguatera poisoning. The onset of symptoms occurs
10-90 min following ingestion of the toxic fish. The victim complains
of light-headedness or dizziness, weakness, muscular incoordination
and sometimes ataxia, hallucinations and depression. In the severe
cases, there may be parasthesia about the mouth, and some muscular
paralysis and dyspnea. The agonal period is usually of short duration,
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
7. Hallucinatory fish poisoning
This type of poisoning is characterized by central nervous systeni
signs and symptoms, and by the lack of gastrointestinal manifestations.
It has occurred following the ingestion of certain mullet and surmullet
(goatfish). Among the species reported to have caused this poisoning
are : Mugil cephalus L., Neomyxus chuptalli (Eydoux and Souleyet),
Paraupeneus chryserydros (LacBpBde), and Upeneus arge Jordan and
Evermann. Reports of poisonings have been filed in the tropical
Pacific and Hawaii (Jordan et al., 1927 ; Fish and Cobb, 1954 ; Helfrich
and Banner, 1960).
These fishes appear to be toxic only in certain specific areas and only
during certain times of the year, usually June, July and August.
Unfortunately a systematized collecting program of these fishes from
an endemic area does not appear to have been made, thus it is difficult
to predict just when the fish will become toxic. Helfrich and Banner
(1963) were unable to produce the poisoning with seventy-five of the
above fishes taken on Kauai and Molokai during July and August of
1959. Our own group failed to find any toxin in 123 specimens of
Upeneus arge taken near Hanalei Bay on Kauai during August and
September of 1961. One hundred additional specimens collected
between Haena and Anahola on the sa,me island during 1961 also
proved to be non-poisonous.
In 1961, several fishermen on Kauai informed me that only the head
of the goatfish was toxic, and that the body could be eaten with
impunity. However, other fishermen stated that the body was equally
as toxic. The former contention appears to have been handed down
from the reports of Dr. Nils Larsen (Jordan et al., 1927) of Queen’s
Hospital in Honolulu, who fed the brain of a goatfish, “ weke pahala ”
to a cat which ‘‘ at once went crazy, but recovered, as in fact, all cases
soon recover.” This story is well known among fishermen in the
Hawaiian Archipelago and no doubt has influenced some reports on
this problem. As noted by Helfrich and Banner (1963), boiling, frying
or steaming does not appear to affect the poison.
Nothing is known of the chemistry or toxicology of this poison.
However, the symptomatology in the human cases so far reported
would seem to indicate that the offending substance is different from
that responsible for ciguatera poisoning. The onset of symptoms occurs
10-90 min following ingestion of the toxic fish. The victim complains
of light-headedness or dizziness, weakness, muscular incoordination
and sometimes ataxia, hallucinations and depression. In the severe
cases, there may be parasthesia about the mouth, and some muscular
paralysis and dyspnea. The agonal period is usually of short duration,