POISONOUS JELLY-FISH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2345, 30 December 1914, Page 6

POISONOUS JELLY-FISH

"A WARNING TO BATHERS. . Recently a warning was' given bathers that there were at present in Welton Harbour a species of jelly-fish that were positively harmful. Since that time the harbour has become infested with jelly-fish, and among thom ia, according to Mr. Thos. Shields, of Oriental Bay, a large proportion of the poisonous kinds. These are a very large: variety, . sometimes ,'bb big as an umbrella, with red feelers • or trailers. from two to three feet long. 'It is with these appendages that the damage is done. The bather might not feel the oontaot of one of the feelers being laid across his body or leg, but if it is a good "contact"—that is to say, if the jelly-fish is working hard—the sensation on the flesh resembles that of . a stinging nettle. , There is not much pain felt in the' water, but later a kind. of prickly heat develops all over the body, and in Scotland Mr. Shields has known, people to'become delirious for about twenty-four hours. The seriousness of the affection all depended upon the general state of health. There had been cases at Home where people in poor health had beon laid up for a .week through brushing an acquaintance with ono of these poisonous jelly-fish.' Mr. Shields states that parents should warn their 'children of the danger.. Within the past few days he had seen children-waders playing; with, the fish in the shallow waters of Oriental Bay, 'where hundreds of jelly-fish had been, washed on the beacn during the past few days.