2 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Pachygone ovata, used also by the Malays to poison crocodiles. Of the 

 Rhamnaceae, Kraetner mentions Tapura, Gouania, and Zisyphus. Among the 

 Tiliaceae, Kraemer, also mentions species of Grewia which are used as fish- 

 poisons. The same authority adds species of Barringtonia of the order Lecy- 

 thidiaceae and Laportea stimulans of the Urticaceae to the above list. 



ANCIENT USE OF POISONS 



In his work on "Poisons : their Effects and Detection,'' Blyth writes an 

 excellent account of their history from which a few of the following more im- 

 portant data have been taken for the present work. 



Their early history is involved in myth. Hecate was said to have been 

 the discoverer of poisonous herbs and her knowledge passed in turn to Medea. 

 The Egyptian kings, Menes and Attains Philometer, not only had a knowledge 

 of plants but the latter was also familiar with the uses of such plants as 

 hyoscyamus, aconite, conium, and others of similar character. He experimented 

 with poisons and compounded medicines. The Egyptians knew prussic acid, 

 which was extracted from the peach and by means of which those who re- 

 vealed religious secrets were put to death. The ancient Romans also must have 

 been familiar with this poison, since a Roman knight once took poison and 

 fell dead immediately at the feet of Samolus. The ancient Greeks knew about 

 poisons and it was not considered a dishonorable thing to commit suicide. 



Nicander of Colophon (204-138 B. C.) wrote two treatises on poisons, in 

 one of which he described the effect of snake venom; in the other, henbane, 

 aconite, conium, and fungi, were discussed. As antidotes for poisoning from 

 any of these substances, he recommended such remedies as lukewarm oil, in 

 order to excite vomiting. 



Dioscorides (40-90 A. D.) divided poisons into (1) Animal poisons, as 

 cantharides, poisonous snakes, the blood of an ox (probably putrid) ; (2) Poi- 

 sons from plants, as opium, hyoscyamus, conium, aconite (the latter coming 

 from Akron in Heraclea), and colchicum; (3) Mineral poisons like arsenic 

 and mercury (cinnabar). 



Pliny mentions that the Gauls dipped their arrows in a preparation of 

 veratrum. 



Toffana of Naples sold under the name of Acquetta di Napoli a solution 

 of arsenious acid, by which, it is said, 60S persons were poisoned, among them 

 the popes, Pius IH and Clement XIV. 



Poisoning was much practiced in India for the purpose of revenge, robbery 

 and suicide, every little quarrel being liable to end in assassination of one of 

 the parties. Such poisons as arsenic, aconite, opium, and extracts derived from 

 plants of the Solanum family, were also used in India to destroy cattle. It is 

 said that gipsies used Phycomyces nitens, having knowledge of its properties 

 from the same country. The spores of the fungus were administered in warm 

 water and death, accompanied with all the symptoms of tuberculosis, followed 

 in a few weeks. The Hebrews seem to have been familiar with certain poisons, 

 as arsenic, aconite and, possibly, ergot. 



The deaths of Socrates, Demosthenes, Hannibal, and Cleopatra, were due 

 to the administration of poisons. 



In the early part of the Christian era, there were many professional poison- 

 ers and their business flourished, kings, emperors, popes, and members of the 

 nobility being among their victims. There were two great criminal schools 



