THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY, 493 



Ancient Hindu writers agree in attributing violent emetic properties 

 to tlie root ; it is also said to cause abortion, and as sucb prescribed by 

 Hindu physicians for expelling retained after-births. Dr. Dymock, 

 in citing the researches of Warden, says that there are two resins and 

 a bitter principle in the root. Warden names this bitter principle 

 superbine, and considers it identical with that of TJrginea SciUcii the 

 ordinary Squill. The bitter active principle of Squill, says Dr. Lauder- 

 Brunton, is a glucoside Scillitoxin or Scill'ain. The Scillitin of 

 some authors is probably slightly impure Scillitoxin {Pharma- 

 cologi/, p. 962). Squill is classed by Lauder-Brunton among 

 stimulants of the Cardiac muscle, when moderate doses are given. 

 When, on the other hand, larger doses are given, it acts as a " Cardiac 

 poison" (p. 276, Oj). cit.). In such cases, that is to say,, where the 

 dose is large, " the stage of stimulation is followed by one of peris- 

 taltic action and final arrest in Systole." It is a pity the case 

 quoted by Dr. Lyon gives no information regarding the post-mortem 

 condition of the heart, although the condition of every other 

 organ is noted. It will be useful to note this condition in all 

 future observations with a view to verify the oj^inion of Warden. 

 In excessive doses, "the operation of Squills," says Dr. Waring 

 {Therapeutics, p. 489), "is that of an acro-narcotic poison, 24 grains 

 having proved fatal." Squill is known to cause nausea; a small dose 

 may act with extreme violence. I have already said that the plant 

 is well known among the Hindus as possessing emetic properties. 

 The conjecture of Warden is in my opinion based on a striking simi- 

 larity of the physiological effects of the two plants on the human body. 

 Description of Plate F. 



1. Flowering branch of the plant. 



2. Root, bilobed ; vertical portion being half the shrivelled tuber 

 of the current ^''ear ; the horizontal portion being the new tuber, from 

 the terminal eye of which, at the tip of the part marked 3, the future 

 plant will sprout out : from the convexity of the angle rises the green 

 stem of the plant dividing into four branches immediately on escaping 

 from the bulb ; from the under surface of the angle are shown 

 numerous rootlets. 



4. Half- mature fruit cut across, about the middle. 



5. Half-mature capsular fruit in situ. 

 G5 



