began. A failure of coordination over the whole body 
preceded violent trembling. Then the convulsions dis- 
appeared and paralysis took place. Just before death, 
groups of heartbeats paralleled the respiratory rhythm. 
As death approached, this rhythm changed, and a final 
convulsion wracked the body as the heart stopped beat- 
ing, approximately one-half hour after ingestion. (Perrot 
and Vogt, 1913) 
Although Perrot has written twice of this plant, at 
neither time does he mention the ceremonies and condi- 
tions of the ordeal. What indicated innocence? And 
what were the signs of guilt’ In answer to these ques- 
tions, it may only be assumed that the above account 
was the experience of a guilty person, for no significance 
was attached to vomiting, the usual criterion of inno- 
cence. Furthermore, it must be assumed, from the evi- 
dence at hand, that death was the differentiating factor. 
This indicates a highly toxic active principle, for among 
the majority of plants used in the ordeal, the act of 
vomiting was sufficient to save the participant’s life. 
Erythrophleum Couminga Baill. 
The third and last of the known Madagascar ordeal 
poisons came from Hrythrophleum Couminga Baill., a 
member of the Leguminosae. This great tree was known 
by the vernacular names komanga, kiminga, himanga, 
koumanga, koumango, and kimango in addition to the 
most common appellation, couminga. Its highly toxic 
bark was used as an accessory poison in ordeal trials 
throughout Madagascar and the Seychelles. In certain 
areas, however, it was regarded even above tanghin. 
So greatly did its toxicity impress the natives, that 
they attributed great power to all parts of the tree. The 
mere odor of its blossoms, the rain water that washed its 
leaves, and the smoke from burning parts of the plant 
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