![]() The toxin is lethal at a dose of about half a milligram for an average man. The fish contains a very potent toxin, tetrodotoxin, which, it has been suggested, is produced by bacteria but stored by the fish, presumably to discourage predators such as fishermen. ![]() The picture shows one type of puffer fish which, although eaten as a delicacy, have been responsible for a number of fatal poisonings. A trained chef should know which parts of the fish to avoid. It has been estimated that as many as 200 cases a year may occur, with a mortality rate of up to 50 per cent. Between 19 there were 646 cases and 179 fatalities. Fish that contain the toxin are also accidentally eaten sometimes. Despite the risks, puffer fish is still eaten as a delicacy in Japan, where it is known as fugu. A Chinese treatise written in ad 600 by Chaun Yanfang (Studies on the Origin of Diseases) described the liver, ovaries, and roe as the most poisonous. The poisonous properties of the puffer fish have been known for centuries, and were described as early as ad 220 in China. ![]() Thankfully Cook did not eat very much of it, otherwise it is unlikely he would have survived to recount his experience. A fish unknown to him or his naturalist had been caught and was prepared for dinner. So wrote Captain Cook in 1774 during a sea voyage. We each took a vomit and after that a sweat which gave great relief.11 PUFFER FISH FUGU FULLI had almost lost the sense of feeling nor could I distinguish between light and heavy objects, a quart pot full of water and a feather was the same in my hand. About three to four o'clock in the morning we were seized with most extraordinary weakness in all our limbs attended with numbness of sensation like that caused by exposing one's hands or feet to the fire after having been pinched much by the frost. ![]()
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