

POISONS USED FOR POISOAf ORDEALS 457 



decoction the victim can jump over a stick or micturate upon a banana 

 leaf he is declared innocent. This is seldom possible. The Calabar 

 bean, Physostigma venenosum (Leguminos^e) is often used. If the 

 victim vomits he is innocent, if not he is guilty and dies. 



Arrow poisons varv with the different countries in which they are 

 employed. Thev are usually only known to the witch doctors, chiefs 

 and fetish priests. Snake venom, scorpions, spiders and beetles pulped 

 and well mixed with vegetable poisons are used. Vegetable poisons 

 are important. 



Some act upon the heart and muscles like digitalis. 



peripheral nerve endings like curari. 

 ,, nervous system and heart like aconite and 



strychnine. 

 ,, ,, system like snake venoms. 



To treat an arrow wound, apply a tourniquet to the limb, proximal 

 to the wound. Remove the arrow by passing a hollow tube (bamboo) 

 over the barb and withdrawing it, or folding the skin as close to the 

 point as possible, push the barb through, divide the shaft, withdraw 

 the barbed end forwards and the feathered end backwards. Cup and 

 wash the wound with strong permanganate. Give stimulants generally 

 and fomentations locally. Strophanthus is much used in Central 

 Africa (Livingstone). 



It causes death in from ten to fifteent minutes. 



Fish poisons are used all over the world by natives. The bark and 

 leaves of trees and shrubs are thrown into the water. The fish are 

 rendered unconscious by the poison, and, floating to the surface, are 

 readilv captured. The varieties are numerous. Some of the active 

 principles are strychnine, hvdrocyanic acid, piscidin, a non-nitrogenous 

 substance called derrid and pachyrhizid. 



Denis root will kill fish in a dilution of i in 25,000 of water, and 

 Derrid ,, ,, ,, i in 5,000,000 of water. 



Poisons for animals are: The root of Aram montanum for tigers in 



India. 

 Aconite for elephants in India. 

 Tylophora fasciculata, &c., for rats in 



Africa. 

 Dianella nemorosa L. for rats in Malacca. 



