138 OK THE TOOT-POISON OF NEW ZEALAND. 



brandy, or a mixture of gin and turpentine, locally known as "Drench") 

 Whatever he the nature of the remedy, there is no difference of opinion 

 as to the necessity for the promptest treatment, since, at a certain stage 

 of the action of the poison, all remedies appear equally inefficacious. 



b. In man the nature of the remedy is still more varied, though 

 emetics and stimulants seem the most rational of those usually had 

 recourse to. 



5. The Toot- or TWw-plant is the Coriaria ruscifolia, L. (the 

 C. sarmentosa, Forst). The plant is variously designated by Maoris and 

 settlers in different parts of the New Zealand islands ; and this of itself 

 indicates how familiar it is, and how abundantly and widely distributed. 

 The genus Coriaria is a small one, and, if not belonging to a subdivi- 

 sion of the natural order Ochnacece, probably represents a separate order 

 closely allied thereto and to the Rutacew. The most distinguished 

 botanists, however, are at issue as to its precise place and alliances in 

 the vegetable system. They are in similar dubiety as to the species of 

 the genus, and the varieties of the species C. ruscifolia, L. In New 

 Zealand there appear to be at least three Coriarias, which some botanists 

 regard as mere varieties of C. ruscifolia, L., and others consider separate 

 species. The writer had made, in July 1862, an examination of all the 

 species of the genus Coriaria contained in the Hookerian and Ben- 

 thamian Collections at Kew, the result whereof was a strong conviction 

 of the necessity for a critical revision of the whole genus, throughout all 

 its species, wherever distributed. The writer considers the specific 

 names of the Toot-plant (both ruscifolia and sarmentosa) objectionable, 

 as not truly applicable or descriptive ; and proposes the specific term 

 C. tutu — the Maori name of the plant, as more convenient to indicate 

 the type of the species, leaving such terms as ruscifolia, thymifolia and 

 sarmentosa, to represent varieties or other species, as a subsecpjent criti- 

 cal examination of the genus may render necessary or desirable. 



In contrast to, and in connexion with the toxic action of C. ruscifolia 

 the writer may remark on the better-known poisonous properties of 

 C. inyrtifolia, familiar as an adulterant of senna, and on those of other 

 species of the genus Coriaria. He announces his belief that the whole 

 genus Coriaria must be considered endowed with poisonous properties, 

 probably of the narcotico-irritant class, and that, as such (especially in 

 reference to the extent and importance of the economic losses caused by 

 such species as Toot), it is eminently deserving of thorough scientific 

 investigation. 



Under this head he may point oat the fact that — 

 a. While certain animals seem to be themselves exempt from, or 

 insusceptible to, the action of the poison, they may, by feeding upon 

 certain species, or certain parts of some species of Coriaria, and 

 thereby assimilating or secreting the contained poison in their tissues, 

 communicate poisonous effects, or become poisons, to man or the lower 

 animals, to which they (the animals first mentioned) have become 



