328 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



phanthus was at first considered identical with S. his- 

 pidus, D. C., but the plant was shown by Oliver in 1885 

 to be distinct from the latter, and justified the estab- 

 lishing of a new species, Strophanthus Kombe. 



The physiological features of strophanthus as a 

 powerful cardiac were recognized by the first investi- 

 gators (Sharpey, 1862; Pelikan, 1865; Fraser, 1871). 

 Livingstone reports the observation of Consul Kirk 

 that the poison remarkably reduced the pulse, but the 

 drug was not authoritatively recognized by the medical 

 profession until about the year 1885. 



NOTES ON ARROW POISONS. Under the heading 

 Hyoscyamus, which see, we referred briefly to the ordeal 

 poisons of Africa. Among various aboriginal tribes, 

 arrow poisons are in common usage in warfare, as well 

 as in hunting. While in Africa we find strophanthus 

 yielding the "inee" and "kombe" poisons, in the Hima- 

 laya Mountains, in Nepal, Aconitum ferox is used for a 

 like purpose, and Antiaris toxicaria or upas tree in Java, 

 and Cumane in South America. Nor are such poisons 

 confined to vegetable origin. Livingstone cites a 

 poisonous caterpillar employed in South Africa, and 

 suggests that the animal probably derives its poison 

 from the plant on which it feeds. Lewin mentions in 

 this connection Diamphidia simplex, an underground 

 crysalis. 



As a rule, the African arrow poisons do not consist of 

 single substances, but of compounds made up of various 

 roots and leaves difficult to identify, botanically and 

 chemically. The natives are very reluctant about dis- 

 closing the origin or the manner of preparation of their 

 arrow poisons, and only the initiated few among them 

 are acquainted with the art. When comes the time to 



