MARINE TOXINS AND VENOMOUS AND POISONOUS MARINE ANIMALS
349
The five to eight dorsal spines are enclosed within individual
integumentary sheaths connected by their interspinous membranes.
The first spine curves slightly caudally from its articulated base to the
tip. It has a prominent anteromedian ridge flanked by grooves. The
other dorsal spines vary slightly from the first, and contain grooves
of various depths. The venom is contained within the various grooves.
The spines have been described elsewhere (Russell and Emery, 1960),
and the microscopic anatomy of the tissues associated with the opercular
and dorsal spines has been discussed by Byerley (1849), Schmidt (1874),
Gressin (1884), Parker (1888), Borley (1907), Halstead and Modglin
(1958), and Skeie ( 1 9 6 2 ~ ) .
2 . Chemistry and toxicology
The first important study on the toxicological properties of weeverfish venom was that of Schmidt (1874). While some of his work was
carried out with preserved stings, several experiments were conducted
with fresh materials. In one experiment he stabbed seven frogs with
fresh spines from T. dram; three died within several hours, one
developed swelling at the site of the injury, became weaker, developed
paralysis in both hind limbs but subsequently became asymptomatic.
The remaining animals showed little more than lethargy and increased
salivation.
Gressin's excellent thesis ( 1884) contains many interesting observations on the weeverfishes and their venom. He obtained a rather
pure venom by merely pressing on the base of the opercular spine,
working his fingers up the spine and drawing off the " drop of liquid ''
from the tip with a syringe. The product was clear and light blue in
color, contained several different types of cells, was coagulated by
strong acids, bases and by heat. In frogs the venom produced inactivity,
increased respiration, prostration, convulsions and sometimes death.
It also depressed cardiac rate. In rats it produced a similar sequence
of events. Autopsy revealed ecchymosis and necrosis at the site of
inoculation, and congestion of the heart, kidneys, liver and brain.
He also noted that potassium permanganate had no effect on the action
of the venom.
Pohl (1893) found that the toxin was inactivated by 25% and 95%
alcohol, and by ether and chloroform. In frogs he observed paralysis,
prostration, decreased sensory perception and cardiovascular changes,
particularly slowing of the heart rate and defective filling of the
ventricle. Phisalix (1899) found that glycerine extracts of tissues
from the opercular and dorsal spines produced paralysis, local swelling
and necrosis, and death when injected into guinea pigs.
349
The five to eight dorsal spines are enclosed within individual
integumentary sheaths connected by their interspinous membranes.
The first spine curves slightly caudally from its articulated base to the
tip. It has a prominent anteromedian ridge flanked by grooves. The
other dorsal spines vary slightly from the first, and contain grooves
of various depths. The venom is contained within the various grooves.
The spines have been described elsewhere (Russell and Emery, 1960),
and the microscopic anatomy of the tissues associated with the opercular
and dorsal spines has been discussed by Byerley (1849), Schmidt (1874),
Gressin (1884), Parker (1888), Borley (1907), Halstead and Modglin
(1958), and Skeie ( 1 9 6 2 ~ ) .
2 . Chemistry and toxicology
The first important study on the toxicological properties of weeverfish venom was that of Schmidt (1874). While some of his work was
carried out with preserved stings, several experiments were conducted
with fresh materials. In one experiment he stabbed seven frogs with
fresh spines from T. dram; three died within several hours, one
developed swelling at the site of the injury, became weaker, developed
paralysis in both hind limbs but subsequently became asymptomatic.
The remaining animals showed little more than lethargy and increased
salivation.
Gressin's excellent thesis ( 1884) contains many interesting observations on the weeverfishes and their venom. He obtained a rather
pure venom by merely pressing on the base of the opercular spine,
working his fingers up the spine and drawing off the " drop of liquid ''
from the tip with a syringe. The product was clear and light blue in
color, contained several different types of cells, was coagulated by
strong acids, bases and by heat. In frogs the venom produced inactivity,
increased respiration, prostration, convulsions and sometimes death.
It also depressed cardiac rate. In rats it produced a similar sequence
of events. Autopsy revealed ecchymosis and necrosis at the site of
inoculation, and congestion of the heart, kidneys, liver and brain.
He also noted that potassium permanganate had no effect on the action
of the venom.
Pohl (1893) found that the toxin was inactivated by 25% and 95%
alcohol, and by ether and chloroform. In frogs he observed paralysis,
prostration, decreased sensory perception and cardiovascular changes,
particularly slowing of the heart rate and defective filling of the
ventricle. Phisalix (1899) found that glycerine extracts of tissues
from the opercular and dorsal spines produced paralysis, local swelling
and necrosis, and death when injected into guinea pigs.