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Doctor
Fishes
SIR,_Dr
Warwick and Dr Warwick (Nov 4 p 1093) are sceptial about
the "doktor fish of Kangul". The species of fish
have been identified. There are two types, both being
members of the Cyprinidac family adapted to warm miliue 12 -
namely, "strikers" (Cyprinion macrostomus
macrostomus) with a terminal mouth and with a terminal
mouth and "lickers" (Garra rufa obtusa) with a
ventral mouth. (The "jabber" is an immature
striker, losing its lateral spots during maturation.) Both
fish are omnivorous, a well-known feature of Cyprinidae. The
orientation of inadeguate amounts of phytoplankton and
zooplanktons caused by high water temperatures. The fish
prefer aflected to healthy skin simply because it is easy to
nibble at this surface . Some biochemical properties of fish
in relation to the high temperature of water have also been
investigated.
The
presence of a high level of selenium (1.3 ppm) in water,
topical application of which element is beneficial in some
skin dieases, is an importand factor. The fish may, by
softening the psoriatic plague, clear away the scale and
expose the lession to water and sunlight.
Wide
interest in the "doctor fish" has made people with
neurological, rheumatic and skin diseases other than
psoriasis visit this hotspring to immerse themselves in its
pools. We are grateful for the mention of the doctor fish of
Kangal (Sivas), Turkey.
Deparment
of Internal Medicine.
Faculty of Medicine.
Cumhuriyet University.
Sivas, Turkey
Deparment
of Biology. LEVENT ÜNDAR
Faculty of Sciense and Art. M.ALI AKPINAR
Cumhuriyet University ATILLA YANIKOGLU
References
1.
Timur M, Çolak A, Marufi M.A studyon the systematic
identification of the Balikli thermal spring ( Sivas ) fish
and the curative effects of the fish on dermal diseases ,
Vet
Fakült Dergisi (Ankara ) 1983; 30:276-82 .
2. Özer Z, Akpinar MA Akçay M , et al. Investigation of
some chemical and biological properties of Kangal ( Sivas )
fishy hotspring. Fen Bilimleri Dergisi ( Sivas ) 1987 ;
(suppl 5 ) : 1-34.
3. Halver JE. Fish nutrition . New York : Academic Press ,
1972.
4. Akpinar MA,Aksoylar MY . Effects of temperature, dictary
fatty acids and starvation on the fatty acid composition of
Garra rufa Heckel, 1843. Doga TU Biyol Dergisi (Ankara)
1988; 12. 1-8.
5. Akpinar MA ,Aksoylar MY . Relation to temperature of
fatty acid composition in muscle tissue of Cyprinion
macrostamus Heckel, 1843. Doga TU Biyol Dergisi (Ankara)
1989; 13:57 -62.
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