Eastekfield and Aston. — Chemistry of Tutu. 347 



records two cases of poisoning from the berries. One case 

 was fatal ; in the other the memory was much impaired. 



The authors have received accounts of the treatment of 

 patients who have recovered. These include bleeding from 

 the arteries and veins, emetics, stimulants, lime-water, am- 

 monia, compulsory exercise, inhalation of chloroform followed 

 by sedatives. The experience of stock-owners points to bleed- 

 ing as the most certain and rapid method of affording relief. 



Botanical Affinities of Tutu. 



The name " tutu " is applied to three distinct species of 

 the monotypic natural order Coriarice, : Coriaria ruscifolia, L. 

 (G. sarmentosa, Forst., C. arborea and C. tutu, Lindsay r 

 tutu, pohou, and tupakihi of the Maori), is commonly known 

 as the tree-toot ; it is a handsome shrub, with glossy acu- 

 minate leaves, and grows to a height of from 20 ft. -25 ft. 

 C. thymifolia, Humb. and Bonp. (tutu-papa or tutu-heu-heu 

 of the Maori), seldom exceeds 3 ft. in height, and is known 

 as the ground-toot. G. angustissima, Hook, f., is of com- 

 paratively rare occurrence. It is a small herbaceous upland 

 annual, with a characteristic fern-like appearance. 



C. thymifolia also occurs in South America, where it is- 

 known as the "ink-plant." The juice of the fruit is used in 

 New Granada as an ink, under the name of "chanchi."* 

 C. ruscifolia occurs, too, in China,! where a black stain pre- 

 pared from it is used by shoemakers. C. nepalensis, the 

 Himalayan species, is not known to be poisonous, and the 

 fruit is eaten. G. myrtifolia, the European species, is highly 

 toxic. It is known as " gerberstrauch" (dyers-bush) in Ger- 

 many and " redoul " in France. 



Chemistry of C. myrtifolia. 

 In 1863 M. Biban showed that C. myrtifolia contained a 

 very poisonous constituent, which he called " coriamyrtin."{ 

 A. G. Perkm§ has recently shown that the same plant con- 

 tains quercetin. 



Chemistry of Tutu. 



It is somewhat remarkable that the poisonous constituent 

 of tutu has remained hitherto unisolated. Skey j| has shown 

 that ether removes from the seeds a highly poisonous green 

 oil, which, he remarks, is or contains the poison. Hughesli 



* Jamieson, Proc. Linn. Soc, vol. 7, p. 120. 



t Lauder Lindsav, loc. cit. 



\ "Comptes Rendue," 1863, p. 798, and 1866, p. 680. 



§ "Journal of the Chemical Society,' 77 (1900), p. 429. 



i| Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1869, 153, 399, 4C0. 



M Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1870, 237. 



