MARINE TOXINS AND VENOMOUS AND POISONOUS MARINE ANIMALS
355
The pain is out of proportion to that which might be produced by a
similar wound from a non-venomous fish. During the initial 5 to 10 min
following the stinging the pain is usually confined to the area about the
stab, but subsequently it spreads to involve the entire affected extremity. Axillary pain is common in patients stung on the hand by
weeverfishes. The pain is more severe than that observed following
stingings by stingrays. As noted by Halstead (1957) the pain can be so
severe that a victim stung by one of these fishes while in the water may
experience difficulty in reaching shore. I have received similar reports
from bathers along the Devon and Cornwall coasts of England. It
seems likely that it is the excruciating pain rather than true muscular
paralysis that is responsible for the victim’s motor incapacity.
The amount of bleeding from the puncture wound appears to be
about what one might expect from a similar non-venomous injury. The
degree of swelling about the wound varies, although some swelling
appears to be a constant finding. The tissues adjacent to the wound
often appear discolored ; the surrounding area may be somewhat
blanched. Localized necrosis a t the wound site is not uncommon, and
sloughing of these tissues may occur. I n 1958 and again in 1962 I
examined the hands of a number of retired fishermen a t Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth in England, who had been stung on the hands on
nuqerous occasions by weevers during their younger years. Many of
these fishermen exhibited arthritic changes in both hands, and while
such changes are not uncommon in fishermen who handle nets, these
cases seemed more severe than I have seen in fishermen elsewhere.
It is possible that repeated stings, and the effects of the venom and low
grade infection, might well have been a contributing factor in these
cases of arthritis.
I n severe cases of envenomation by weevers there may be weakness,
dizziness, nausea, primary shock and respiratory distress. Fishermen
a t Ijmuiden, Holland, told me that there was often an urgency to
urinate, and that in severe stings there was considerable axillary and
chest pain as well as changes in pulse rate and respiration. The case
histories of the three deaths I have been able to secure indicate that
in each case the fatality could be attributed to a secondary infection.
A few thoughts on the treatment of weeverfish sting seem indicated,
and perhaps this is an appropriate place to present an additional
reflection or so on the therapeutics of the injuries produced by venomous fishes in general. After having seen and treated a good many
such injuries during the past several decades I have been impressed
with the differences between the advice found in medical texts and
that suggested and used by fishermen or life guards or persons familiar
355
The pain is out of proportion to that which might be produced by a
similar wound from a non-venomous fish. During the initial 5 to 10 min
following the stinging the pain is usually confined to the area about the
stab, but subsequently it spreads to involve the entire affected extremity. Axillary pain is common in patients stung on the hand by
weeverfishes. The pain is more severe than that observed following
stingings by stingrays. As noted by Halstead (1957) the pain can be so
severe that a victim stung by one of these fishes while in the water may
experience difficulty in reaching shore. I have received similar reports
from bathers along the Devon and Cornwall coasts of England. It
seems likely that it is the excruciating pain rather than true muscular
paralysis that is responsible for the victim’s motor incapacity.
The amount of bleeding from the puncture wound appears to be
about what one might expect from a similar non-venomous injury. The
degree of swelling about the wound varies, although some swelling
appears to be a constant finding. The tissues adjacent to the wound
often appear discolored ; the surrounding area may be somewhat
blanched. Localized necrosis a t the wound site is not uncommon, and
sloughing of these tissues may occur. I n 1958 and again in 1962 I
examined the hands of a number of retired fishermen a t Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth in England, who had been stung on the hands on
nuqerous occasions by weevers during their younger years. Many of
these fishermen exhibited arthritic changes in both hands, and while
such changes are not uncommon in fishermen who handle nets, these
cases seemed more severe than I have seen in fishermen elsewhere.
It is possible that repeated stings, and the effects of the venom and low
grade infection, might well have been a contributing factor in these
cases of arthritis.
I n severe cases of envenomation by weevers there may be weakness,
dizziness, nausea, primary shock and respiratory distress. Fishermen
a t Ijmuiden, Holland, told me that there was often an urgency to
urinate, and that in severe stings there was considerable axillary and
chest pain as well as changes in pulse rate and respiration. The case
histories of the three deaths I have been able to secure indicate that
in each case the fatality could be attributed to a secondary infection.
A few thoughts on the treatment of weeverfish sting seem indicated,
and perhaps this is an appropriate place to present an additional
reflection or so on the therapeutics of the injuries produced by venomous fishes in general. After having seen and treated a good many
such injuries during the past several decades I have been impressed
with the differences between the advice found in medical texts and
that suggested and used by fishermen or life guards or persons familiar