and the Plant from which it is extracted* 425 



bitter matter, fixed oil, colouring matter, (which was yellow 

 and probably starch, and which could not be directly extracted 

 on account of its desiccation,) earthy and alkaline salts, woody 

 hairs and wax, which latter appears to preserve the perisperm 

 from humidity*. MM. Pelletier and Caventou have since 

 discovered two vegetable alkalies, Strychnine and Brucine, 

 in it. 



It is known that where the Urari has not produced death, it 

 has been followed by torpor and paralytic fits; and where it has 

 taken effect, the victim dies under convulsions. It appears, 

 when brought in contact with the blood, to have a direct 

 power over the spinal cord. The same effect is produced by 

 the nux vomica when taken internally. M. Orfila observes, 

 ^' A person swallowed in the morning a scruple of nux vomica 

 in powder, and drank afterwards a few glasses of cold water 

 in order to diminish the bitterness occasioned by this sub- 

 stance. Half an hour after he appeared to be drunk; his 

 limbs, especially his knees, were stiff and tense : his walk was 

 staggering, and he was afraid of falling. He took some food 

 and the symptoms disappeared. The administration of nux 

 vomica and of the root of gentian to a woman affected with 

 ague was followed by convulsions, cold and stupor, and almost 

 every part of the body was torpid.^^ (Scutter's Dissert, t) 



It is remarkable that the poison proves innocent when 

 taken internally, and is even recommended as a remedy in 

 gastric disorders. While, during my late expedition in the 

 interior of Guiana, I was suffering under all the horrors of a 

 tertian ague, and our quinine had fallen short, I took fre- 

 quently the Urari in doses of about as much as I could get 

 on the point of the knife. After having taken it I felt gene- 

 rally a slight head-ache, but it did not remove the fever ; and 

 fearing there might be an excoriation of the tongue or throat, 

 or bleeding of the gums, without being aware of it, my com- 

 panions induced me to desist from the dangerous experiment. 

 The Indian when he purchases the poison tastes it, in order 

 to judge of its genuineness. It is well ascertained, also, that 

 animals shot with the Urari are more savoury when prepared 

 for food, and the meat is quite innocent. Generally, the 

 game which we received from the Indians was killed with the 

 poisoned arrow, and we never hesitated to eat of it. Dissec- 

 tion of those who have died of the nux vomica shows no or- 

 ganic lesions, which is likewise the case where death has been 

 produced by the Urari coming in contact with the blood. The 

 first is proved by numerous experiments of M. Orfila ; the 



* Medical Botany, etc., London, 1831, vol. ii. part lii. f lb. part lii. 



