14 



Many plants are utilized by the African natives as arrow 

 poisons. There are three main groups that are typical of Africa; 

 namely, Strophanthus (43 species), Acocanthera, and certain 

 xerophyll plants, chiefiv Ademum,Ca/otropis procera and Erythro- 

 phloem. The seeds are used in preference to the stems which 

 are used in the Strychnos arrow poisons of the American and 

 African bindweed. African Strychnos species produce a tetan- 

 izing effect, as they act primarily on the spinal cord and medulla 

 oblongata. The glucosides, strophantin and ouabain, found in 

 Strophanthus species, cause heart block rapidly. An effective 

 African arrow poison is also prepared from Physostigma vene- 

 nosum. The alkaloid physostigmine centers its action on the 

 parasympathetic nervous system. 



The principal vegetable poisons used on arrows by the natives 

 of Asia and Oceanica are prepared from the forty-nine species of 

 Asiatic Strychnos, chiefly Strychnos Heute; Anemone sp. in 

 northeastern Asia, and Aconitum ferox and napellus in India. 

 The most powerful arrow poison of the east is called Ipoh (a 

 heart poison). Ipoh is prepared in some instances from Strychnos 

 tieute in Borneo but usually from Antiaris toxicaria and i?7noxia 

 throughout the Malay Archipelago. The main Philippine arrow 

 poison sources are Lophopetalu?n toxicu)n and Lunasia amara. 



The manufacture and use of the blow-gun and darts as de- 

 veloped in Borneo was shown by lantern slides. The process is 

 one of the finest examples of Bornean handicraft. 



Arrow poisons may be classified into five groups in accordance 

 with their chief action as follows: 



I. Heart and muscles: Ouabain; Strophantin. 



1. Nerve endings (motor end-plates) : Curare. 



3. Nervous system and heart in general: Aconitine. 



4. Spinal cord (tetanizer): Strychnine. 



5. General systemic effect: Snake venom. 



Specific effects were described as demonstrated by the speaker's 

 laboratory experiments on animal life. Numerous effects and 

 death in monkeys and man within fifteen to twenty minutes 

 after slight wounds were reported from authentic accounts in 

 the literature. 



Arthur H. Graves, 



Secretary. 



