69 
Preliminary notes on some new Poisonous Plants 
discovered on the Johnstone River, North 
Queensland. 
By T. L. "Bancrort, M.B., Edin., F.L.S. 
(Communicated by Pror, T. P. Anperson Sruart, M.D.) 
[Read before the Royal Society of N.S. W., 2 June, 1886.] 
AmonG many barks, leaves, and fruits collected on the Johnstone 
River during 1885, with a view to ascertain if they possessed any 
hysiological activity, was the bark of a small tree called Daph- 
nandra “repandula, F.v. M., of the order Monimiacee, which 
possesses a somewhat bitter taste. 
This bitter property exists in all parts of the plant. 
Extract of the bark was prepared in August, 1885, and experi- 
ments instituted the following Octobe 
grain or more of alcoholic attics ‘suspended i in a few minims 
of water injected under the skin of guinea-pigs asphyxiates them 
rapidly, oe with smaller doses they sometimes recover. 
e if animals live for half an hour they ‘ultimately 
recov 
The Bilawing symptoms may be observed when a grain of the 
alcoholic extract suspended in five minims of water is injected 
under the skin of a guinea-pig, death taking place within half an 
hour :— 
The animal becomes at first very restless and eats with avidity, 
but this continues only a few grpesee and is probably sis to 
the irritation of the injection. As scon, however, as the a 
quietens down, convulsive twitches of the extremities, and ator 
wards of the whole body, occur every second or two, but they are 
not of a violent kind, and continue until death. The eyelids 
blink in a curious way occasionally, respiration is increased, an 
the front legs are a agin able to support the body ; the animal 
in consequence rests upon its chest. This condition is very 
characteristic, and is an almost certain sign that the dose has been 
a fatal one. 
The animal up to this time could exercise voluntary movements. 
The hind legs next become weak, and if the animal be now placed 
upon its back, it is no longer able to right itself, although there yet 
remains power of movement in all the limbs; it is perfectly 
