The poison prepared at Leogane consisted only of animal 

 constituents. Once again, the bilan (cf. Diodon holacanthus) and 

 a crapaud de mer (Sphoeroides testudineus) were sun-dried, 

 broiled and placed in a mortar. Fresh specimens of two tarantulas 

 (Thcraphosidae) and three non-venomous lizards the miti verde 

 (Anolis codes finus Cope), the zanolite {Anolis cy botes Cope), 

 and the mabouya [Epicrates striatus Fischer) were roasted on 

 coals with two locally recognised varieties of OsteopUus domini- 

 censis, the crapaud blanc and the crapaud brun. The houngan at 

 Leogane especially emphasised the toxicity of human remains 

 and included both ground human bones and dried pieces of 

 human flesh in the preparation. The final product at Leogane was 

 a coarse powder. 



In all three documented preparations, the consistent ingre- 

 dients are readily identified. The plant additives include species 

 with urticating hairs, anacardiaceous plants that produce severe 

 dermititis, an aroid with irritating calcium oxalate crystals and a 

 number of species with spines. The addition of these irritants is 

 related to the method of applying the poison. Though topically 

 active, any one of the variations is said to be particularly effective 

 if inhaled or applied to an open wound. In one preparation 

 obtained at Saint Marc, ground glass was added to the mortar. 

 Another informant suggested pricking the victim's skin with a 

 thorn before applying the toxic powder. Several of the plants 

 induce such acute irritation that the victim in scratching himself 

 may cause open wounds. The poison may be applied more than 

 once to the victim, and undoubtedly these self-inflicted wounds 

 increase susceptability to subsequent doses. 



There are two constant animal ingredients, ground human 

 remains and one or more species in two genera of puffer fish: 

 Diodon hystrix, Diodon holacanthus and Sphoeroides testudi- 

 neus. In each preparation, the human remains are burnt almost to 

 charcoal and probably are chemically inert. The puffer fish are 

 merely broiled, and it is significant to note that neither frying, 

 stewing, boiling or baking denature tetrodotoxins (Savtschenko 

 1882, Halstead and Bunker 1953). Tetrodotoxin is one of the 

 most poisonous non-protein substances known: as an anesthetic, 



160,000 times more potent that cocaine (Mosher 1964). 



It IS 



146 



