346 SIR THOMAS R. FRASER AND MR ALISTER T. MACKENZIE ON 



from each side of the iron stem, in one arrow two pairs and in the other three pairs 

 (see fig. 4b, Plate I.). 



The long portion of the iron stem of the arrow-head that is not inserted into the 

 cane shaft, and nearly always a considerable part also of the head itself, is thickly and 

 unevenly covered with the poison, the iron stem having previously had a vegetable 

 fibre wound spirally round it, apparently for the purpose of increasing the adhesion of 

 the poison. 



When the arrows were first received the poison was slightly soft, but, in the 

 course of time, it has become hard and brittle and greyish on the immediate 

 surface, and almost black in the interior. The poison scraped from two arrow-heads, 

 the one small and the other large, weighed 2*5 and 4*5 grams (38 "5 and 69 - 4 grains) 

 respectively. 



On shaking the powdered poison in a test-tube with a little distilled water, a pale 

 brown, slightly viscous fluid was produced, in which were numerous nearly white, 

 flaky particles, which remained in suspension for several hours. Under similar treat- 

 ment, 70 per cent, alcohol produced a brownish-yellow, clear solution, and 90 per cent, 

 alcohol a very pale yellow solution. In each case, much the greater part of the poison 

 remained undissolved. Neither ether nor chloroform appeared to exert any solvent 

 action upon it. Although by chemical reagents definite proof could not be obtained 

 that extract of S. sarmentosus seeds forms an ingredient of this poison — any more 

 than with Dr Dalziel's arrow-poison, in which this extract is definitely known 

 to be present — the manner of its preparation and the locality in which it is 

 prepared are in favour of this being the case. This probability is strengthened by the 

 results of experiments that we have made to determine its lethality and its effects on 

 the heart, which are recorded at p. 348. 



Arrow-heads from the Chibbuh Hill Campaign. — We have also had an opportunity 

 of examining two arrow-heads, obtained by Dr A. C. Parsons, M.O., East Bornu, and 

 transmitted to one of us by the Acting High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria, which 

 had been removed from the dead bodies of two members of the Chibbuh Hill Campaign 

 of 1906-7. Both arrows are stated to have caused death in half an hour. They have 

 the same characters as those sent by Sir Frederick Lugard. The lethality of the 

 poison closely corresponds with that of the arrow-poison obtained by Dr Dalziel and 

 of the poison on the arrows received from Sir Frederick Lugard, and it affects the 

 heart in the same way (pp. 348 and 349). 



It may, therefore, be assumed as being probable that the seeds of S. sarmentosus 

 form a main ingredient of the poison in these arrows also. 



With each of these arrow-poisons and with several of their products a number 

 of experiments was made with the objects of determining their lethality and the 

 nature of their action. Before being used, each substance was completely dried 

 in vacuo over sulphuric acid. The experiments are summarised in the following 

 Tables (I. to IV.). 



