DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 1025 



of the parts examined, the bark of the stem and branches alone failed to give evidence 

 of its presence. The endocarp and placenta of the follicles and the comose appendages 

 of the seeds were found to contain larger quantities than the roots, leaves, or epi- and 

 mesocarp. In none of these parts of the plant, however, is it so largely present as in the 

 seeds, and none of them can so conveniently be used as the seeds to produce strophanthin 

 or the pharmaceutical preparations of Strophanthus. 



(The pharmacology of Strophanthus hispidus will be described in a future part of the 

 Transactions. ) 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 

 Plate I. 



A. One of four arrows in the Materia Medica Museum, University of Edinburgh, tied together, and labelled 



by Sir Robert Christison, " Poisoned arrows from the interior of Africa, poison unknown." Poison 

 found to be Strophanthus. 

 (The brown colour in this and the other arrows indicates the poison composition smeared on the arrow.) 



B. One of above four arrows. Poison also found to be Strophanthus. As this arrow closely resembles Kirk's 



arrow (p. 957), it is probable that it, as well as arrow A, has been obtained from the Zambesi 

 country. 



C. Arrow from a district 75 miles N.N.W. of Zanzibar. From Dr Felkin. Stated to be poisoned with the 



substance contained in packet J, Plate II. Found to be inert. 



D. Arrow from Wanyika country, north of Zanzibar. From Dr Felkin. Also stated to be poisoned with the 



substance contained in packet J, Plate II. Found to be active. 



E. One of five similar arrows in the Materia Medica Museum, University of Edinburgh, labelled " Arrows from 



Negroes of River Gambir, poison unknown." Poison found to be Strophanthus. 



Plate II. 



F. Arrow from the Shire District of East Africa. From Mr Buchanan. Poisoned with Strophanthus. 



G. Arrow also from the Shire District. From Mr Buchanan. Poisoned with Strophanthus. 



H. Arrow from the West Side of Lake Tanganyika. From Dr Tomory. Poison unknown. Found to have a 



Strophanthus action. 

 7. Scraped mature follicle of Strophanthus hispidus. Hairs of the comose appendages of the seeds are seen 



protruding through the partially split placental surface of the follicle. 

 J. Packet of Wanyika poison. From Dr Felkin. Poison very active, and similar in action to Strophanthus. 



Plate III. 



Fig. 1. Root from small Strophanthus hispidus plant, one year old, grown in Royal Botanic Garden, Edin- 

 burgh. Natural size. 



Fig. 2. Portion of root from mature plant, sent preserved in spirit from the Shire District, East Africa. 

 Natural size. 



Fig. 3. Transverse section through a constricted portion of above root from mature plant, from Africa, x 6. 



Fig. 4. Transverse section through a swollen portion of same root from Africa, showing great development of 

 food-storing cellular tissue. x 6. 



Fig. 5. Leaf from a plant, one year old, grown in Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Natural size. 



