368
FWDLAY E. RUSSELL
necrosis are correlated in certain of the venomous piscines, and that they
follow in this order: Synanceja > Pterois > Scorpaena > Trachinus
> Urolophus. This contention is supported by some experimental
findings, although it does not necessarily follow that these three activities can be associated with one component of the venom.
Treatment of wounds inflicted by Synanceja must be instituted
immediately following envenomation. The use of hot water as described
for stingray wounds on page 346 should be tried. Injection of emetine
hydrochloride directly into the wound(s) is of value, if it can be
accomplished within 30 min of the stinging. Wiener (1959b) has prepared an antivenin against S. trachynis venom. It appears to have a high
degree of potency and has been found to be very effective. It is recommended for all cases of S. trachynis poisoning in which systemic
symptoms develop, providing the patient is not sensitive to horse
serum. Its value in poisonings by species other than trachynis has not
been determined. I have used one ampule of Dr. Wiener’s antivenin
in a case of Scorpaena guttata poisoning, and I would like to think that
my patient fared better because of it.
D . Summar y , p h ysiopharmacolog y
It appears from the several physiopharmacological studies on the
venoms of Urolophus, Trachinus, Pterois, Scorpaena and Synanceja
that these toxins produce certain identical reaction patterns, which
differ for the most part only in their degree of reactivity. The cardiovascular reaction-patterns that our group has demonstrated for
Urolophus venom have now been demonstrated for the four other
genera noted. Some of the physical and several of the chemical properties identified in Urolophus venom have also been found in these other
venoms. Most of the differences in the toxicological data presented by
the various workers appears to be more directly related to technical
differences (differences in the techniques employed, the preparation of
the venom, the choice of the experimental animal, the route of administration of the toxin, the pH of the extract, etc.) than to actual differences
in the venoms themselves. The similarity of the clinical syndromes
and the effectiveness of certain therapeutic measures also indicates a
relationship between these toxins.
At the Tenth Pacific Science Congress in 1961, I pointed out that
the evidence to date suggested that a close relationship existed between
the chemical and toxicological properties of many of the venomous
fishes. This contention appears even more supportable today, and one
might expect that within the next few years the marine biochemist
may develop the basic structural formula(s) for these toxins. It is
FWDLAY E. RUSSELL
necrosis are correlated in certain of the venomous piscines, and that they
follow in this order: Synanceja > Pterois > Scorpaena > Trachinus
> Urolophus. This contention is supported by some experimental
findings, although it does not necessarily follow that these three activities can be associated with one component of the venom.
Treatment of wounds inflicted by Synanceja must be instituted
immediately following envenomation. The use of hot water as described
for stingray wounds on page 346 should be tried. Injection of emetine
hydrochloride directly into the wound(s) is of value, if it can be
accomplished within 30 min of the stinging. Wiener (1959b) has prepared an antivenin against S. trachynis venom. It appears to have a high
degree of potency and has been found to be very effective. It is recommended for all cases of S. trachynis poisoning in which systemic
symptoms develop, providing the patient is not sensitive to horse
serum. Its value in poisonings by species other than trachynis has not
been determined. I have used one ampule of Dr. Wiener’s antivenin
in a case of Scorpaena guttata poisoning, and I would like to think that
my patient fared better because of it.
D . Summar y , p h ysiopharmacolog y
It appears from the several physiopharmacological studies on the
venoms of Urolophus, Trachinus, Pterois, Scorpaena and Synanceja
that these toxins produce certain identical reaction patterns, which
differ for the most part only in their degree of reactivity. The cardiovascular reaction-patterns that our group has demonstrated for
Urolophus venom have now been demonstrated for the four other
genera noted. Some of the physical and several of the chemical properties identified in Urolophus venom have also been found in these other
venoms. Most of the differences in the toxicological data presented by
the various workers appears to be more directly related to technical
differences (differences in the techniques employed, the preparation of
the venom, the choice of the experimental animal, the route of administration of the toxin, the pH of the extract, etc.) than to actual differences
in the venoms themselves. The similarity of the clinical syndromes
and the effectiveness of certain therapeutic measures also indicates a
relationship between these toxins.
At the Tenth Pacific Science Congress in 1961, I pointed out that
the evidence to date suggested that a close relationship existed between
the chemical and toxicological properties of many of the venomous
fishes. This contention appears even more supportable today, and one
might expect that within the next few years the marine biochemist
may develop the basic structural formula(s) for these toxins. It is