228 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



EFFECTS OF THE POISON. 



The tutu is well known as the most remarkable of New 

 Zealand's poisonous plants. Some of the animals liberated 

 here by Captain Cook died from the effects of eating the 

 leaves, and in the early days of the Colony the settlers lost 

 large numbers of their animals in this way. Thus Dr. Lauder 

 Lindsay states in the " British Medical Review " (July 1865) ; 

 "He seemed a fortunate farmer or runholder who had not lost 

 more than 25 per cent, of his stock from toot-poisoning, whilst 

 in some instances, the losses were so high as 75 per cent." 

 Sir Julius von Haast narrates how an elephant travelling with 

 a circus, died from eating this plant by the way-side. Further, 

 there are on record a few cases in which human beings have 

 lost their lives from eating the shoots or berries of the tutu. 

 The poison produces vomiting, convulsions, frothing at the 

 mouth, and death. 



It has been found that a dose of about a milligram of the 

 extract " produces nausea, vomiting, and incapacity for work 

 extending over twenty-four hours in a healthy, full-grown 

 man." >: 



Various methods of treatment have been employed to 

 counteract the effects of the poison, including the use of 

 lime-water, ammonia, stimulants, and the inhalation of 

 chloroform followed by sedatives and bleeding. If the ex- 

 perience of stock owners is to be trusted, the last mentioned 

 is the most efficacious means of affording relief. No antidote 

 is known. Maori children, poisoned by eating the berries, were 

 smoked over a fire of green boughs, being shaken all the time ! 



There is some reason to believe that the accounts given of 

 the effects of the poison on stock have been exaggerated. 

 Horses have been known to eat freely of this plant without 

 evil results. Possibly the over-driving of cattle and sheep 

 has in many cases intensified the action of the poison. 



*Easterfield and Aston : Trans. Vol. XXXIII., p. 345. 



