99 

 THE YARROW (Achillea millefolium). 



This European weed has of late made its appearance on Ha- 

 waii where the writer found it along- the Volcano road. It is con- 

 sidered poisonous though sheep will eat the weed. 



It seems to have a decided action on the blood-vessels, especi- 

 ally in the pelvis. It is stated that it causes burning and raw 

 sensations of the membrane with which it comes in contact, giv- 

 ing considerable pain in the abdominal regions, accompaniecl by 

 diarrhea and enuresis. The alkaloid principle is acJiilleiii, C.>o 



BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Abnts prccatorius.) 



This vine, which is more or less common in Honolulu, belongs 

 to the bean family or Lci:;uminosac. The seeds are small, the 

 size of a pea, red in color and have a black spot, hence the name. 

 The poisonous substance found in the seeds of this species is a 

 toxalbumin called ahrin. It is considered a fish poison and is em- 

 ployed similarly to the Auhuhu or Hola. 



The toxalbumin ahrin is similar to that of the castor oil plant 

 known as ricin, this latter is more poisonous than strychnine and 

 prussic acid. It may not be out of place to make further men- 

 tion of ricin, although the plant has been discussed in the first 

 paper. The following is said about ricin, by Blyth : 'Tf castor 

 oil seeds are eaten, a portion of the poison is destroyed by the 

 digestive processes ; a part is not thus destroyed, but is absorbed, 

 and produces in the blood vessels its coagulating property. 

 Where this takes place, ulcers naturally form, because isolated 

 small areas are deprived of their blood supply. These areas 

 becoming dead, may be digested by the gastric or intestinal 

 fluids, and thus, weeks after, death may be produced. The symp- 

 toms noted are nausea, vomiting, colic, diarrhea, teresmus, thirst, 

 hot skin, frequent pulse, sweats, headache, jaundice, and death 

 in convulsions or from exhaustion." 



The toxalbumin in Ahrus prccatorius causes similar effects and 

 symptoms. The ahrin when applied to the conjunctiva causes 

 coagulation in the vessels and a secondary inflammation. 



Dr. Warden of India, who experimented with the poisonous 

 properties of the plant, found that half a seed rubbed down with 

 a small quantity of water and injected into the thigh of a full- 

 grown cat produced fatal effects in 24 hours. 



PUAKALA (Argcmone inexicana). 



The Mexican Poppy or Puakala is native in Hawaii, but is 

 also found in Mexico and Texas. It occurs in dry waste places, 

 especially near Koko Head, the Waianae region and other dry lo- 

 calities, but is restricted to the lowlands. 



