234 



Plant Names,' in Journ. R. As. Soc, Straits Branch, 1897, p. 58' 

 " Biak (Perak), Mitragyne speciosa, Korth. (Rubiaceae). Leaves 

 used as a substitute for opium in Perak, according to Mr. Wray."). 

 Attention was drawn to Mitragyne speciosa by Hooper in a 

 communication to the Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. 78, 1907, 

 p. 453, where it is inadvertently stated that the leaves of this 

 plant are used as a remedy for the opium habit, and in conse- 

 quence Mitragyne was included as an 'anti-opium' plant. 



In the Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums, vol. II., 

 No. 2, Dec. 1907, Mr. Wray calls attention to the mistake, and 

 gives an account of ' Biak ' (Mitragyne speciosa). The leaves of 

 this indigenous tree are sometimes used in Malaya as an opium 

 substitute. In Perak its use appears to have declined recently 

 owing to the introduction of cheap opium, but in Patani and 

 other northern States it is reported to be much in vogue. 



The tree is known as « Poko Biak ' in Perak and as ' Keton ' 

 m ratani. Its geographical range embraces the whole Malayan 

 archipelago and peninsula, and it is widely distributed in Perak. 



ft™?™*? m JUngle and is P lanted in the kampongs, and is 



frequently seen m and around villages. 



iJ^Zl^^ "S? Y ray the *«* is Prepared for use in one of 

 in th?™ yt h l Qr V he leaves are P^ ked a » d P ut out to dry 

 Zvdl T Un M. the ? b6C0me cris P> when the y ^e reduced to 



?ein<T «f ?k "'I g J etWeen the hands > the fibrous riba and 

 Jesnltinf ™° i aV6S ^ mg removed during the process. The 

 resulting powder may then be stored for future use . 



wei Jh? d ThVn°n Ul ^ l • 136 grains ' 0r ' sa ?> 2 i drams apothecary's 

 whole djnv P ° wder . 18 ™ xed ™th cold water in a cup and the 



token like S T* mfn f ion is made with hot water and it is 

 taken like tea. It is usual to take it twice a day, before meals. 



"The second method of 



dry 



infusion Ttiia ? 1* • i \ m in wat er so as to form an 

 Sum ^cinsTstencv Th ?d "5 the clear filtrate is evaporated to a 

 usual v stored fntn. S ?**? can be ke P* a long time, and is 

 keeu ht prent^l ™* ttle . horn T b ° Xes U8ed S opium smokers for 

 wh?ch g is aC theTr. "S * i8 Called c ^ bv the Malay* 



This extract of tk^^ZT^ FT?* f0r Sm ° king - 

 dose is said to hpnl f ^ hot wa ter before taking. The 



Some people Lt»n? t * Un ' which ™ equal to 5'83 grains troy. 



drink of wati PUt Xt ° n the ton ^ e and wash it down with a 



as prepared ZiuT* Thf * Sm ° k ^' somewba t in the same way 

 of the bamboo kZwi^ t ffi?^ f or this P^pose is made 



thera sinua ta), andTs U ti^T ™ huloh mh * ak \oxytenan- 

 is closed by a naturafsetf Z f long a , nd * inch in diameter. It 

 this is the end which T^v\^ ^ and is °P en at tbe other ; 

 closed end a Sm tnL i- ?P W ? V* the moufch in use - Nea r the 

 to the bamboo an^ £ if J^ted, which projects at right angles 



diameter. There is hi \1 S l ° ng ' with a bore of i inch in 

 Patani pattern, almost extfK "T 1 collecti on an opium pipe of 

 only the bowl if 7 *l nl J Slmdar J to the one described above, 



may be so called, is of tin in place of brass 



