44 EDITORIAL.. 



resembles in this respect the dried sap of Antiaris toxicara; the solution 

 boiled with dilute acids gives the same peculiar and characteristic odor 

 obtained from the antiaris saji under the same conditions. 1 -was not 

 able to isolate any antiarin from the small amount of material available, 

 but could obtain color reactions which correspond with those from antiarin 

 and also with those of the alkaloicls of dita bark. It is probable that, 

 if the alkaloids of dita bark are present, the}' are an unimportant con- 

 stituent of the poison. Tlie physiological action of this jDoison reminds 

 me very much of that shown by antiarin as is evidenced by the following : 



Guinea pig, weight 450 grams, 0.003 gram arrow poison inserted sub- 

 cutaneousl)'. In two minutes there is an excitement stage of the action; 

 in four, a marked decrease in the rate of respiration is noted and the 

 breathing labored. This stage is very rapidly followed by convulsive 

 spasms and lack of muscular coordination. These con^'l^lsive spasms of 

 the diaphragm and abdominal muscles last each about one second. This 

 condition is soon followed hy general convulsions, retraction of the head 

 and extension of the fore and hind legs, the muscles being rigid for 

 from 1 to 5 seconds. Each contraction of the muscles is explosive in 

 character. Breathing becomes more and more difficult, the pupils are 

 dilated, and the animal dies apf)arently of aspfajTiia. For several minutes 

 after breathing has stopped there are muscular twitchings and irregular 

 contractions of the heart, which finally stops in diastole. Death occurs 

 in 8 minutes. There is no local irritation at the point of inoculation. 



This experiment is typical of many others made on this powerful 

 poison. It was found that 0.001 gram of the arrow poison will kill 500 

 grams of animal in 30 minutes, so that there is sufficient poison on one 

 of these small arrows to kill from 100 to 250 kilograms of animal in 

 half an hour. 



Other animal poisons in the Philippines are prepared from fermented 

 pineapple leaves, from 8unasia A^nori Blanco, from Lophopetalum 

 toxicum Loher and from Strophanthus Cuiningii DC. These have not 

 yet been investigated. 



One case of poisoning from Dolores, Abra, came to this laboratory 

 in which the poison used, a pounded fibrous bark, was identified as that 

 of Antiaris, showing that the tree is probably not local to Jlindoro and 

 will doubtless be found in other parts of tlie Archipelago. 



Eayjiond F. Bacon. 



FOOD AND DRUG INSPECTION. 



The "Food and Drugs Act" of the Philippine Commission, passed 

 May 18, 1907, is uniform with the United States act of June 30, 1906, 

 in all of its provisions except those relating to the enforcement of the 

 law by the courts and other officials of the Philippine Islands. The 



