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acute poisoning, and all of whom, at intervals varying from 36 to 72 
hours, actually died. The symptoms they exhibited were severe 
jaundice, abdominal pain, severe vomiting of bilious character, dila- 
tion of pupil, bleeding from nose, constipation, bloody urine tinged 
oy with bile, and more or less stupor. All died in a comatose state. 
If you could give me any information as to whether the plant is known 
in rope or any other particulars I should be greatly obliged, as I feel 
that the case is one of sufficient toxicological interest to be reported to 
the Medical Societies at home. It appears that the plant is known 
the Persians to be eie to man, and in this unfortunate instance 
was gathered by an ignorant woman in mistake for another plant which 
it much resembles, and which 3 is used in this country as an article of food. 
In any case I have thought it worthy s FEMME under your notice. 
may add that all who ate of the plant 
[ have, &c. 
(Signed J. HORNSEY Casson, 
Physician to om vun onis Legation 
To the Director of th n Per 
Royal Botanical Gardek Kew. 
ROYAL GARDENS, Kew, to Mr. Casson. 
à Royal Gardens, Kew, October 14, 1889. 
TR, 
VE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your let ter of 
July 8th, transmitting specimens of a plant, known by the Persians as 
Tatuleh, Mist you inform me has proved fatal to six persons who ha 
eaten it by m take. 
e piat belongs to the natural order Euphorbiacece, which abounds 
in acrid and poisonous species such as tbe Physie nut (Jatropha 
Curcas), Croton oil (Croton Tiglium), and Manchineel (Hippomane 
e cinella). lt has been identified as C, rozophora tinctoria, a plant 
suf 6 record of its having been found to be fatally poisonous Lindley, 
however, states in his Flora Medica (p. 179) that it is “ an acrid plant, 
* with emetie, drastic, corrosive properties. Its seeds, ground into 
“ powder and mixed wit oil, are employed as a cathartic medicine. 
« 18 cultivated for the deep purple dye called Turnsole which is 
* obtained fr 
3. a acount of this product is given by the late Daniel Hanbury. 
F.R.S., e Pharmaceutical Journal (1849-50, pp. 308-9). It is 
termed Transl rags, Tournesole en drapeaux, to distinguish it from 
Litmus or Tournesole en pains, the origin of which is different. The 
juice of the plant is expressed, and, at first dark green, becomes purple 
period. At the time Hanbury wrote they had fallen into disuse every- 
where except in Holland, where it was believed their only use was to 
colour the exterior of cheese, 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) W. T. THISELTON DYER. 
J. S Mes Lo Casson, g M.R.C.S., 
‘Tehran, Pétsia. 
* 
