1888.] Toxic Principle of fJip Aroideop. Ill 



" hoea occasioned by eating two leaves. The genus possesses the same 

 " properties in other climates, the several species being classed among 

 " the most potent acrid poisons in their respective regions. The 

 " ^. seguimim of the West Indies is so active, that two drachms of the 

 *' juice have been known to prove fatal in a few hours. It is not a 

 " little remarkable that the acridity of the arum is lost not merely 

 *' by drying, but likewise by distillation. I have observed that when 

 " the roots are distilled with a little water, neither the distilled water 

 " nor the residue possesses acridity. Reinsch says, he has eaten powder 

 " of arum root, which though not acrid to taste, produced severe burn- 

 " ing of the throat not long after it was swallowed." Guy and Ferrier* 

 state that " the root of A. maculatum is somewhat heart-shaped, and 

 " like all other parts of the plant is highly acrid and irritating. The 

 "juice applied to the tongue causes acute darting pain as if it were 

 " pierced with sharp needles. The poisonous properties of the plant are 

 " wholly dissipated by heat." Woodman and Tidyt sum up the 

 symptoms of poisoning by A. maculatum as follows, " Great local irrita- 

 tion, swelling of the tongue, convulsions, dilated pupils, insensibility 

 and coma ". Woodman and Tidy also refer to several cases of poisoning 

 by A. maculatum, of which we abstract the following. Dr. Russell 

 StubeJ records a case in which a male ret. 43 took one leaf as a remedy 

 for tape-worm. The symptoms were immediate pain and pricking 

 sensation in the mouth downwards : the tongue became swollen : saliva- 

 tion and vomiting. The patient recovered. Dr. Frayer§ reports a case 

 of a male child set. 6 who was found in a kind of fit, with spasmodic 

 action of all the muscles of the body, bloody froth at the mouth, pupils 

 dilated, heart's action very feeble, rigid closure of the jaw. A certain 

 drowsiness succeeded. Recovery ensued. A second case is also reported 

 by Dr. Frayer|| of a male child aet. 8, in which the symptoms were 

 convulsions and widely dilated pupils. Recovery ensued. Dr. Frayer^f 

 quotes a case of a child oet. 3 who masticated the roots ; the symptoms 

 were immediate burning pain in the mouth and lips, torpor in three 

 hours, followed by complete prostration in six hours with delirium and 

 asphyxia, and death in nine hours. Another fatal case is recorded in 

 the Medical Times and Gazette for June 6th, 1857, in which death ensued 

 from eating the leaves. Dr. Alliott** gives the following account of a 



* Forensic Medicine 



t A Handy Book of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 

 X " Lancet " April 13th, 1872. 

 § British Med. Journal, Jan. 22nd, 1861. 

 II Ibid : June 22nd 18G1. 



% Ibid: June 22nd 18G1. Quoted from Gazette Medica di Porto. 

 ** British Med. Journal, April 23rd, 1881. 



