PALMJE. 525 



giddiness is well known in the East, and it lias also been 



F 



observed that the nuts of certain trees in most betel planta- 

 tions retain their poisonous properties when dried* These trees 

 cannot be distinguished from the others, so that not unfrequently 

 accidents happen from their nuts becoming mixed with the 

 produce of the plantation before their presence has been 

 detected. The poisonous properties are destroyed by heat, and 

 consequently many people only use the cooked or red betel- 

 imts of commerce to avoid the possibility of accident. The 

 only account of these poisonous nuts in European works 

 appears to be that of Eumphius, which agrees in every respect 

 with the particulars related by betel farmers whom we have 

 questioned upon this subject; it is as follows: — '*Plurimae 

 etiam recentes sunt nuces, quse qualitatem banc habent^ 

 quod manducantes inebrient, ae vertiginosos reddunt uti Taba- 

 cum illos afficit, qui ipsi not sunt adsueti ; idem quoque, pra^s- 

 tant vetustiores Pinangoe nuces, qnee novitianos adeo 

 pectore oppresses, et auxios reddunt, ut strangulari videantur. 

 Qu8e proprie Finanga-mahok sen Pinanga inehriam vocatur, 

 atque has plurimum in tertia, sen nigra specie inveniuntur, 

 (quse a quibusdam pro diversa habentur specie) atque hae 

 dignoscuntur, si recentes transcissee in media cavitate rubentes 

 sint. Observavi vero neutiquam diversam banc esse speciera, 

 sed varietatem atque degenerationem duarum memoratarum 

 specierum, quae bine inde in arboribus reperiuntur, quamvis 

 etiam arbores occurant, quarum cunctse nuces banc habent 

 »iahgnitatem, ac prcesertim terti^ speciei." Eumphius adds 

 that when these nuts have been eaten by mistake, salt or 

 Hmejuice, or acid pickles are the best remedies. The above 

 facts seem to indicate the return of a few plants to an original 

 ^ild form now extinct, especially as the fresh nuts of the best 

 trees produce similar effects in a less degree^ 



In Europe betel-nuts have been used as an anthelmintic for 

 tape-worm and as an astringent, and in veterinary practice 

 tbeir reputation as a vermifuge is well established. 



Up to 1889 it was not known to which of its constituents 

 tbe areca nut nivwl i'f« o^fAnftTre use in the East as a masticatory 



