Dec. 1893.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 2 1 



MEETING OF THE SOCIETY, 



Thursday, December 14, 1893. 

 Dr. Craig, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Eeginald Macleod, Queen's and Lord Treasurer's 

 liemembrancer, and Pekcival C. Waite, were elected 

 Eesident Fellows of the Society. 



The Chairman informed the Society of the deaths of 

 Rev. George Gordon, LL.D., and of A. Stephen Wilson, 

 Non-Eesident Fellows of the Society. 



The Treasurer briefly stated the financial position of 

 the Society, particulars of which he promised to communi- 

 cate at tlie next meeting of the Society. 



The following donations to the Illustration Fund were 

 announced : — 



Dr. Cleghorn, . . . .£100 



Sir J. D. Hooker, . . . 2 2 



Presents to the Library at the Eoyal Botanic Garden 

 were announced, amongst them being the second fasciculus, 

 completing the first volume of the " Index Kewensis." 



]\Ir. Euthereord Hill said — Among some Museum 

 specimens, received a few days ago, was a specimen of the 

 Malay fish poison, called Aker Tuba. It is the root of 

 Derris dliptica, Benth., a papilionaceous woody climber, 

 which grows wild on the plains in Perak, and is also rather 

 extensively cultivated. The roots, known as Tuba root, 

 are done up into bundles like the one I now exhibit. This 

 one is quite dry, but as sold in the East they are in the 

 fresh state, and have a rather pleasant aromatic, resinous 

 smell, resembling tliat of fresh liquorice root. "When cut, 

 a milky juice exudes. This root has for a long time been 

 used by the Malays for poisoning fish, the chopped roots 

 being placed in the water. It also enters into the com- 

 position of the " Ipoh " arrow poison of Borneo. As it 



Issued November 189-1. 



