Anecdote of a Fish

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MESSRS. EDITORS—Allow me to place on record in your valuable journal an instance of remarkable tenacity of life in a fish called the "killey," common in the brooks in our vicinity. A few mornings ago, as I was examining my aquarium, I discovered a fish that appeared afflicted with a disease that has killed a number ; it presents the appearance of a white fuzz, commencing in a small spot upon the fins, tail, or back, and gradually, in the course of a few days, enveloping the whole fish, producing death. To prevent it spreading to others, (as it appears to be contagious,) I have adopted the plan of removing any upon the first indication of this disease. I took the fish from the aquarium and threw him in a stove where there was no fire, but it was partially filled with ashes", supposing that a few moments would end his misery. On coming into the room an hour and a-half afterwards, my wife remarked, " Why did yon put a live fish in the stove ? He is jumping about in the aBhes." Sure enough, on opening the door, there was the fish alive, and so completely eoated with ashes, I could not tell head from tail. I took him out, wiped the ashes off, and placed him back in the aquarium, determined, as he had shown such a tenacity for life, to let him live as long as he could. When placed in the water, he gradually and completely revived, and is now swimming as merrily as any of hie companions. If this is a fish story, it is nevertheless strictly true. G. F. J. COI-UURN. Nowark, N. J., March, 1858.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 28This article was published with the title “Anecdote of a Fish” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 28 (), p. 224
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican03201858-224g

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