' 410 APOCYNACEZ. 
ascribes théir toxic properties to the bland oil. Dr. Dumontier 
has published an account of the death of a child three years of i 
age after eating one seed. An interesting case of poisoning by 
one of the seeds is recorded by Dr. J. Balfour (Madras Journ. 
of Lit. and Science, iii., N. Ser., p. 140). Recovery ensued. 
Dr, Lyon (Med. Juris., p. 299) mentions a case in which eight 
to ten seeds proved fatal to an adult female: he remarks that 
cases of poisoning in the human’subject are seldom met with 
in India, but of late years the seeds have come into somewhat 
extensive use in the Bombay Presidency as a cattle poison, 
nine cases of this kind having been reported in the Bombay. 
Chemical Analyser’s Office during the year 1886. In Bengal 
four other cases are on record, but the particulars of one 
only are given, in which a woman attempted to commit 
suicide. = 
CERBERA ODOLLAM, Gértn. 
Fig.— Wight. Ic., t. 441; Lyon’s Med. Juris. for India, 
p. 300, 
- Hab.—Swamps and creeks on the coasts of India and 
Ceylon; Sunderbuns. The seeds. 
Vernacular.—Odallam (Mal.), Katarali (Tam.), sneee 
(Can.), Sukanu (Mar.), Dabér, Dhakur (Beng.). ig 
. History, Uses, &c.—This is a handsome tree, very - 
plentiful along the backwaters of the western coast. Emetic 
‘and purgative properties are assigned to the milky juice, bark 
a ‘and leaves, and the action is very similar to that of Thevetia 
et neriifolia. The kernel of the seeds is frequently resorted to 
_ in-eriminal poisoning in the Madras Presidency, and in the — 
native states of Travancore and Cochin. The fruit combined 
he _with datura is a part of the remedy given by native physicians — 
heb hydrophobia. ‘The bark-affords a fibre. The sceds yield 
oe _ 85:5 per cent. of a bland fixed oil, of a pale yellow colour, wh 
is. used for burning and for anointing the head; it conta 
no poisonous: PROpRaRy: if. obtained “ae pear 
of petroleum ether. _ : ; 
