( 287 ) 



XIII. — The Pharmacological Action of Tutu, the Toot Plant of New Zealand. 



By Professor 0. R. Marshall. 



(MS. received November 20, 1909. Read June 21, 1909. Issued separately January 29, 1910.) 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Introduction 287 



Active Principle 288 



Previous Pharmacological Investigations . . 289 



General Effect of Tutin 290 



on Rabbits 290 



on Guinea-pigs 294 



on Frogs 294 



on Trout and Tadpoles .... 295 



Action on Medullary Centres .... 295 



The Convulsions 



Influence of Anaesthetics on the Convulsions 

 Muscles affected by the Convulsions 

 Seat of Origin of the Convulsions 

 Action on the Higher Centres 

 Influence on Temperature . 

 Effect of Decomposition Products 

 Comparison with other Convulsants 

 Summary 



PAGE 



300 

 302 

 304 

 307 

 309 

 310 

 312 

 312 

 314 



Introduction. 



Under the name Tutu, three species of Coriaria — C. ruscifolia (L.), C. thymifolia 

 (Humb. & Bonp.), and C. angustissima (Hook.)* — are usually included. Other species 

 have been described, but they appear to be varieties only. All the forms are poisonous, 

 and in times past this plant has proved a serious hindrance to the rearing of stock in 

 New Zealand. LiNDSAY.t in the course of a tour through the country during the latter 

 part of 1861 and the earlier months of 1862, "was everywhere struck by the abundant 

 evidences of the devastation produced among flocks and herds from their feeding on the 

 toot plant" ; and he further states that " he seemed a fortunate farmer or runholder who 

 had not lost more than 25 per cent, of his stock from toot-poisoning ; while in some 

 instances the losses were so high as 75 per cent." 



In order to gauge the extent of its ravages at the present time, a circular letter, dated 

 25th July 1900, was sent by Professor Easterfield and Mr Aston to every medical 

 man in New Zealand, and to such laymen as they thought might take an interest in the 

 matter. Very few replies were received (4 from medical men, 10 from lay men), | and 

 none of them indicate the extent of the malady. On the whole, the correspondents 

 corroborate the observations of Lindsay (I.e.). The following account summarises the 

 statements made in the letters and in the extracts from the lay press submitted to me. 



* G. ruscifolia is commonly known as " tree-toot." It grows to a variable height, sometimes to 6-8 metres, and 

 has glossy, succulent leaves and shoots. G. thymifolia or " ground-toot : ' usually grows to 30-50 cm. in height, and has 

 small leaves and flowers. G. angustissima is herbaceous, and grows about 50 cm. high. Its slender branches terminate 

 in very fine branchlets which carry numerous leaves, thus giving the plant a fern-like appearance. It is compara- 

 tively rare. 



t "On the Toot Plant and Poison of New Zealand," Brit, and For. Med.-Ghir. Rev., July 1865, p. 153. 



J These were kindly sent to me by Mr Aston. 



TRANS. ROY. SOC. EDIN., VOL. XLVII. PART II. (NO. 13). 44 



