PRELIMINARY NOTES ON THE PHARMACOLOGY OF 

 SOME NEW POISONOUS PLANTS. 



By Thos. L. Bancroft, M.B., Edin. 



(Communicated by J. II, Maiden, F.L.S.) 



Laurelia Nov^-Zelandi^, a. Cunn., N.O. Monimiacese. 



In a bush at Waipu, province of Auckland, N.Z., June 1887, 

 whilst in search of poisonous plants, I found the bark of the tree 

 called by the Maoris " Pukatea " had a rather agreeable aromatic 

 bitter taste, a little of which was gathered for experiment. 



Whilst at Christchurch some months later opportunity presented 

 itself of investigating the physiological action of this and several 

 other plants. 



An alcoholic extract was made, which when injected into frogs, 

 "the introduced frog from Australia, Litoria aurea" caused rapid 

 death. A few spasmodic jerks of the hind limbs were noticed 

 before the animal became flaccid. The muscles, motor nerves, and 

 heart were apparently uninfluenced. A solution of the extract in 

 water gave the reactions of an alkaloid. 



Mr. Cheeseman of the Auckland Museum kindly told me the 

 scientific name of the plant. There is only one other known 

 species of Laurelia and that is indigenous to Chili. 



Laurelia is related closely to the genera Atherosperma and 

 Daphnandra, all the species of which genera possess active pro- 

 perties. 



Myoporum l^tum, Forst., N.O., Myoporinese. 



Preparations of this plant are poisonous to frogs. The bark 

 contains an oil and a wax ; whether or not any other substance I 

 did not decide. The oil, at any rate, is poisonous to frogs. 



Melicytus ramiflorus, Forst., N.O. Violarieae. 



This is a small tree with a peculiar tasting bark. An extract 

 of it is slightly poisonous to frogs, and causes in them a good deal 

 of secretion of the skin. 



