The circumstances, clinical features, complications and progress of eighty-one cases of stonefish stings are described. There were no fatalities, few complications and no lasting ill-effects. The various forms of treatment are discussed. The venomous fishes of Malaysia are briefly reviewed. It is concluded that stonefish stings occur fairly frequently in this country and that they are attended by appreciable morbidity, but that fatal cases or cases with lasting ill-health are probably rare.
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Bites and Stings*; Female; Fishes*; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Singapore; Venoms/toxicity; Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Coca-leaf habituation has affected millions of Andean natives for over 400 years. In the last half-century it has also involved millions more Malayans. Coca leaf, from which cocaine and extracts for some commercial carbonated soft drinks are obtained, remains relatively unknown by the medical and allied professions elsewhere. A review of the original medical, historical and other pertinent literature of the last 350 years illustrates the origins of the use of coca leaf, its spread, the isolation of cocaine and its first uses, as well as some of the euphoric and other effects of both substances.
MeSH terms: Anesthesiology/history*; Coca*; Cocaine/adverse effects*; Humans; Indians, South American; Malaysia; Mythology; Peru; Plants, Medicinal*; South America; Substance-Related Disorders/history*; History, Modern 1601-