360
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
there was evidence of muscular weakness. According to the authors,
the apparent skeletal muscle weakness was more pronounced with the
venom of this fish than that observed following injection of the venom
of the stonefish. Cessation of respirations preceded death. It was found
that approximately 2500 LD,, for mice were present in each extract
prepared from the combined tissues of the dorsal spines of one fish.
(c) Clinical problem. Poisonings by zebrafishes have been reported
by Bottard (1889), Halstead et al. (1955a), Ray and Coates (1958),
Steinitz (1959), Saunders and Lifton (1960), and others. Envenomation
gives rise to immediate intense, sometimes burning pain, which radiates
from the injured area more rapidly than in the case of weeverfish or
stingray poisoning. The pain often becomes unbearable within a few
minutes following the injury, and may cause the victim to thrash
about in considerable agony. The area about the wound may be
blanched. The victim may complain of numbness or parasthesia about
the injury or even over the entire injured part. Weakness, dizziness
and shock may quickly ensue. In cases of shock there is often bradycardia, hypothermia and respiratory distress. Cyanosis has been
reported. Edema develops rapidly and may be quite severe within an
hour. The wound site is often discolored and markedly tender. Necrosis
and sloughing of the tissues about the wound may occur. The pain
often persists for 8 to 12 h, and the injured part may be sore and swollen
for several weeks.
On 16 May, 1961 I received p telephone call from a tropical fish
dealer in Los Angeles who had just been stung by a 17 cm P. volitans.
A t the time of the phone call, which was approximately 3 min following
the injury, the patient complained of intense burning pain at the site
of the injury (distal third of the right index finger), pain through the
palm of the hand and into the forearm, and a feeling of nausea, anxiety
and weakness. I advised the patient to put the entire right hand in a
bucket of hot water and to be driven to the nearest receiving hospital.
The patient was seen 20 min later, at which time he stated that while
the pain was less severe than it had been 10 min previously, it was still
intense, and that he had a dull aching sensation through the forearm
and up into his right axilla. He complained of some weakness but no
nausea. His color was dusky and his skin cool and moist. The injured
finger was swollen, red and tender to deep pressure, and superficial
sensory stimuli over the area of injury were not felt. The patient’s
blood pressure was 100/60, pulse 64, respirations 12 and somswhat
shortened during inspiration. White blood cell count, urinalysis and
the electrocardiogram were normal.
FINDLAY E. RUSSELL
there was evidence of muscular weakness. According to the authors,
the apparent skeletal muscle weakness was more pronounced with the
venom of this fish than that observed following injection of the venom
of the stonefish. Cessation of respirations preceded death. It was found
that approximately 2500 LD,, for mice were present in each extract
prepared from the combined tissues of the dorsal spines of one fish.
(c) Clinical problem. Poisonings by zebrafishes have been reported
by Bottard (1889), Halstead et al. (1955a), Ray and Coates (1958),
Steinitz (1959), Saunders and Lifton (1960), and others. Envenomation
gives rise to immediate intense, sometimes burning pain, which radiates
from the injured area more rapidly than in the case of weeverfish or
stingray poisoning. The pain often becomes unbearable within a few
minutes following the injury, and may cause the victim to thrash
about in considerable agony. The area about the wound may be
blanched. The victim may complain of numbness or parasthesia about
the injury or even over the entire injured part. Weakness, dizziness
and shock may quickly ensue. In cases of shock there is often bradycardia, hypothermia and respiratory distress. Cyanosis has been
reported. Edema develops rapidly and may be quite severe within an
hour. The wound site is often discolored and markedly tender. Necrosis
and sloughing of the tissues about the wound may occur. The pain
often persists for 8 to 12 h, and the injured part may be sore and swollen
for several weeks.
On 16 May, 1961 I received p telephone call from a tropical fish
dealer in Los Angeles who had just been stung by a 17 cm P. volitans.
A t the time of the phone call, which was approximately 3 min following
the injury, the patient complained of intense burning pain at the site
of the injury (distal third of the right index finger), pain through the
palm of the hand and into the forearm, and a feeling of nausea, anxiety
and weakness. I advised the patient to put the entire right hand in a
bucket of hot water and to be driven to the nearest receiving hospital.
The patient was seen 20 min later, at which time he stated that while
the pain was less severe than it had been 10 min previously, it was still
intense, and that he had a dull aching sensation through the forearm
and up into his right axilla. He complained of some weakness but no
nausea. His color was dusky and his skin cool and moist. The injured
finger was swollen, red and tender to deep pressure, and superficial
sensory stimuli over the area of injury were not felt. The patient’s
blood pressure was 100/60, pulse 64, respirations 12 and somswhat
shortened during inspiration. White blood cell count, urinalysis and
the electrocardiogram were normal.