1062 ON THE PHARMACOLOGY OF SOME NEW POISONOUS PLANTS, 



Veronica salicifolia, Forst. . * , -v-r rr , 



-r^ XT 1 AlsoNew Zealand plants 



Dysoxylum spectabile, Hook. | . , , . ^ 



Geniostoma ligustrifolium, a. Cunn. 



SoPHORA tetraptera, Aiton. 



were examined but found 

 inert. 



Marlea vitiensis, Benth., N.O. Cornacese. 



In May, 1888, through the courtesy of Messrs. F. M. Bailey and 

 Carl Madsen, I had an opportunity to examine the Queensland 

 collection of woods prepared for the Melbourne Exhibition, 



A dozen or more bitter barks, not previously known, were found, 

 but only that of Marlea vitiensis proved to be poisonous. 



Preparations of this plant apparently kill frogs by bringing the 

 heart to a standstill in diastole. Motor nerves and muscles are 

 unaffected if death takes place rapidly, but if delayed they are 

 found in a state of paralysis. This paralysis is due, in part at any 

 rate, to stasis of blood circulation, for the heart beats very feebly 

 from an early period of the poisoning. Vomiting is a remarkable 

 symptom. 



Frogs when poisoned with this substance become less irritable 

 to a stimulus of any kind. The active principle is an alkaloid, 

 easy of preparation. Tt is insoluble in chloroform, ether, benzine 

 and turpentine, slightly soluble in water and in aqueous alcohol. 



So far I have not been successful in getting it or any of its salts 

 in a crystalline form. 



It appears not to be emetine, although it probably belongs to 

 the group of poisons of which emetine is the type. 



LuFFA iEGYPTiACA, Mill., N.O. Cucurbitaceae. 



This plant is a native of Northern Queensland, and was pointed 

 out to me by Mr. Bailey as possessing an extremely bitter fruit. 



Upon tasting the fruit there is experienced an intensely bitter 

 sensation, which in a few minutes disappears but leaves a dis- 

 tressing acridity in the throat, which is not at its worst until 

 several hours afterwards. 



An extract is very poisonous and contains two principles, a 

 bitter substance and a saponin. 



