128 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



was also given. In this case, too, death ensued, but the heart was 

 found to be only slightly contracted, death having apparently been 

 hastened by the injury referred to. A third mouse, treated in the 

 same way, lived for 30 hours ; in this case also the heart was 

 found to be firmly contracted. Two other mice, similarly treated, 

 likewise succumbed, but no post-mortem examinations were made. 



I alluded to Gerrard's mention of the use of charcoal as an 

 antidote by the natives : in this connection it was curious to note 

 that on the person of the Kaffir doctor who was connected with the 

 last case was found a black powder consisting of oxide of copper 

 together with minute crystals of copper sulphate mixed with 

 powdered charcoal. 



From the tin out of which the deceased drank the decoction, after 

 extraction with alcohol, a residue was obtained exhibiting the 

 chemical reactions before mentioned. This extract also caused 

 the death of a mouse in a few hours, the heart being found pale 

 in colour at the apex and very firmly contracted, while the small 

 intestines were slightly congested. 



About two years ago four ounces of the contents of a stomach of 

 a native woman were analysed by Mr. J. Muller, B.A., the analyst 

 in charge of the Grahamstown branch of our laboratory. The fluid 

 was treated with pure alcohol for some days and the clear filtrate 

 evaporated. Mr. Muller' s investigations showed the extract to 

 contain an uncrystallisable substance, very soluble in alcohol, 

 chloroform, and acidulated water, but insoluble in ether. The tests 

 applied produced results which were recorded as follows by 

 Mr. Mullen- 

 Concentrated sulphuric acid Pink colour, deepening to brick, then 



passing into chocolate - brown, 

 bluish-green, and violet. 

 Concentrated sulphuric acid, with 



potassium dichromate Greenish-yellow and emerald-green. 



In the post-mortem examination on the deceased it was recorded 

 that all the organs were normal, but the heart bloodless. 



The extract obtained from the stomach by methods already 

 detailed were administered to mice, one drop of the extract being 

 given to each ; one of the mice died in 32 hours, the others in 

 34 and 36 hours respectively. To the last two a second drop was 

 given 24 hours after the first. The symptoms produced were tonic 

 contraction of the muscles, slowing and intermittence of the 

 respiration, gaping accompanied by a straining movement like 

 that of vomiting. Before final arrest of the heart a slowing is 



