270 EUPEORBIAGEM 



alkaline dicliromatej and with nitric acid a blue colour changing 

 to green ; these tests serve to identify it with some degree of 

 probability. An extract of the leaves and fruit acts as a 

 violent gastro-intestinal irritant, {Ueporty Madras Chenu 



w 



Examiner y 1885.) 



Toxicology. — The Madras Chemical Examiner reported in 1885 

 that the poison had been found in two cases from South Arcot. 

 " In one case a man being detected in an intrigue with his 

 mother-in-law, her relations threatened to excommunicato her; 

 whereupon both are supposed to have taken this poison and to 

 haA^e died very soon — from half an hour to an hour — after talon 

 it. Both vomited. In the second case vomiting and purging 

 were followed by recovery." In 1886 .the same Chemical 

 Examiner reported that the expressed juice of certain leaves 

 (of Odiivan)^ the residue of which was sent for examination 

 mixed with common salt^ was supposed to have been taken by 



a man to cure itch. H 



^ and died m a 



few hours. In 1887 Oduvan was found, in a case from South 

 Canara, in the stomach of a woman who poisoned herself when 

 her husband was dying. She was suddenly seized with 

 vomiting and died rapidly. In 1880 a woman was suspected 

 of attempting suicide by poison ; the leaves found in her 

 possession were identified as those of this plant. In 1S90 a 

 pregnant woman died with symptoms of gastro-intestinal 

 irritation, after taking an abortifacient ; from her stomach was 



simila 



obtained 



Flueggia Leucopyrus, Wdld.y Wig^i 



Pimjab 



Ceylon, is used both in Madras and Bombay as a fish-poison. 

 The sweet, white berries do not appear to have any injurious 

 properties, as they are eaten by children, who call them Mcidh 

 (honey). The juice of the leaves is used to destrov 



worms 



sores. 



Chemical composition. -JIhe bark contains 10 per cent, of a 

 tannic acid, gmng a violet-black colour with ferric cHoride, 



