OX THE TOOT-POISON OF NEW ZEALAND. 249 
since, at a certain stage of the action of the poison, all remedies ap- 
pear equally inefficacious. 4. In man—the nature of the remedy is 
still more varied, though emetics and stimulants seem the most rational 
of those usually had recourse to. 
5. The Zoot- or Tutu-plant is the Coriaria ruscifolia, L. (the C. sar- 
mentosa, Forst.). The plant is variously designated by Maoris and 
settlers in different parts of the New Zealand islands; and this of itself 
indicates how familiar it is, and how abundantly and widely distributed. 
The genus Coriaria is a small one, and, if not belonging to a subdivi- 
sion of the Natural Order Ochnacee, probably represents a separate 
Order closely allied thereto and to the Rutacee, The most distinguished 
botanists, however, are at issue as to its precise place and alliances in 
the vegetable system. ` They are in similar dubiety as to the species of 
the genus, and the varieties of the species C. ruscifolia, L. In New 
. Zealand there appear to be at least three Coriarias, which, while some 
botanists regard as mere varieties of C. ruscifolia, L., others consider 
separate species. "The author had made, in July, 1862, an examination 
of all the species of the genus Coriaria contained in the Hookerian and 
Benthamian Collections at Kew, the result whereof was a strong con- 
vietion of the necessity for a critical févision of the whole genus, 
throughout all its species, wherever distributed. . . . In contrast to, and 
in connection with, the toxie action of C. ruscifolia, the author remarked 
on the better-known poisonous properties of C. myrtifolia, familiar as 
an adulterant of senna, and on those of other species of the genus 
riaria.. He announced his belief that the whole genus Coriaria must 
be considered endowed with poisonous properties, probably of the nar- 
colico-irritant class, and that, as such (especially in reference to the ex- 
tent and importance of the economic losses caused by such species as 
Toot), it is eminently deserving of thorough scientific investigation. 
Under this head he pointed out the fact that—a. While certam ani- 
mals seem to be themselves exempt from, or insusceptible to, the ipit 
of the poison, they may, by feeding upon certain species, or certain 
near Toulouse, were poisoned by a dish of snails, which had been fat- 
