Erythrophlewm guineense G.Don 
Erythrophleum guineense G. Don. of the Leguminosae 
was one of the most widely used ordeal poisons in Africa. 
This species has also been designated by the following 
synonymy: &. judiciale Proctor, EH. ordale Bolle, E. 
leonense G. Don, Mavia judicialis Bertol., and Afzelia 
grandis Hort. ex Loud. In addition to having its great- 
est concentration on the western coast from Senegal to 
the Cameroons, it was often resorted to in the Congo and 
Gabon, and found occasional use in the eastern and south- 
ern regions. Its vernacular names, each of which was used 
in several different regions, were sassy bark, moavi, n’kasa, 
n’ka, mancona, arui, m’bondo, casca, cassa, teli, tali, melt, 
and bouronne. 
The bark of this large tree, which varies in height from 
40 to 100 feet, contains the extremely toxic alkaloid, 
erythrophlein. This alkaloid effects the heart and body 
in a manner similar to digitalis and picrotoxine combined, 
i.e.,it causes an abolition of voluntary motion, exaggera- 
tion of reflex action, and convulsions followed by paraly- 
sis of the heart. Its external effects are a paling of the 
face, labored and irregular respiration, convulsions, vom- 
iting of watery material without effort, urination and 
fecal discharges, several great convulsions, and then death. 
In addition to the effects of the poisonous principles, 
it has been suggested that tannins contained in the bark 
were largely responsible for the tree’s employment as an 
ordeal poison. Since these substances are highly irritative 
to the lining of the stomach, more often than not the 
poison was probably rejected before its poisonous action 
had commenced. A poison which invariably killed would 
undoubtedly have had a short life as a vehicle for the 
ordeal. 
Preparation of the poison was often simple. The bark 
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