12 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF CRYPTOCARYA AUSTRALIS ; 
ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION es 
CRYPTOCARYA’ AUSTRALE 
BY 
T. L. BANCROFT, M.B., Edin. 
(Read on 4th March, 1887 ). 
CRYPTOCARYA AUSTRALIS, enth. (Laurus australis, 4. Cunn), 
is a small tree growing plentifully about Brisbane. Cryptocarya is 
a genus of the order Laurinez. 
On May r2th, 1886, in search of poisonous plants, I found the 
bark of this tree to have a very persistently bitter taste. Physio- 
logical experiments were immediately made, which led to the 
discovery of its toxic action. Other species of the same genus 
are likewise poisonous. It is interesting botanically to note such 
a poisonous genus in this order. 
The active principle is a crystalline alkaloid ; there is contained 
in the bark also a very large quantity of mucilaginous matter, a 
glucoside and a volatile oil. 
The alkaloid can be obtained in a colourless crystalline state in 
the following manner :—Pulverise the dry bark, boil in alcohol 
and water accidulated with sulphuric acid, filter, neutralise with 
ammonia, evaporate to the consistence of syrup, shake with ether 
to free from the volatile oil, evaporate the syrupy extract to dry- 
ness, dissolve in water, precipitate with tannic acid, collect and 
wash the precipitate, mix thoroughly while still moist with hydrate 
of lime, allow to stand for a day, dry over a water-bath and shake 
out the alkaloid with alcohol, allow the alcohol to slowly evaporate. 
The crystals are acicular, arranged in stellate masses. 
The alkaloid or its salts have an intensely bitter taste ; it is 
odourless and extremely poisonous, slightly soluble in water, very 
soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Warm blooded animals 
poisoned with Cryptocarya exhibit respiratory difficulty, soon 
ending in asphyxial convulsions and death. On frogs it causes 
paralysis of the reflex function of the spinal chord and the 
peripheral ends of motor nerves as effectually as curara. 
