898 



SIR THOMAS R. FRASER ON THE 



casualties. In the expedition of 1894, for instance, there were only seventeen 

 cases of arrow wounds, with but one fatality, and probably this death was due 

 more to the position of the wound than to the poison. In the last expedition, 

 tlnit of 1911-12, which originated from the treacherous murder, in March 1911, of 

 M r Noel Williamson and Dr Gregorson, in a force of 3000 combatants and between 

 3500 and 4000 coolies, who on many occasions were subjected to "flights of 

 poisoned arrows," only six cases of arrow wounds were treated by the medical officers, 

 and not more than three of these terminated fatally.* 



While preparations were still being made for the despatch of this punitive 

 expedition, Captain J. V. Macdonald, I.M.S., sent me two poisoned arrow-heads, 

 which he had obtained at a stockade at Balek, in the Brahmaputra valley. 



Before the examination of the poison on these arrow-heads had been finished, 

 a number of other arrows and related substances were placed at my disposal, in 1912, 

 by the India Office, the Government of India, and the Principal Medical Officer 

 to H.M.'s Forces in India ; by Colonel Sir Wyville Thomson, Major Davidson, and 

 Major Granger, I. M.S. ; and, subsecpiently, by the late Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, 

 R.E., Surgeon-General Sloggett, and Major Davidson. 



From statements made by the Abors themselves, indications were also communi- 

 cated to me of the substances believed to be used in poisoning the arrows, to the 

 effect that aconite and the croton oil plant were chiefly employed, but that pig's 

 blood, serpent's venom, and the fruit and juice of several plants were occasionally 

 added to the arrow-poisons. 



The following substances were experimentally examined : — 



Table I. 



Substances. 



Dates when 

 received. 



Donors and other Sources. 



1. Two poisoned arrow-heads from Abors 



in the stockade at Balek. 



2. One poisoned arrow-head from Janak- 



mukh Camp. 



3. Poisoned arrows in a quiver from the 



Minyong tribe of Abors. 



4. Poisoned arrows in a quiver from 



the Mishmi country. 



5. Poisoned arrows and darts and quiver 



from the Mishmi country. 



6. Aconite roots and fruit of Kntwla 



scandens, 



7. Aconite roots from the Mishmi country. 



8 Acunitum lieterophylloides roots from 



Sikkim. 

 9. Products from several of the above. 

 10. Croton oil. 



Sept. 1911. 

 Feb. 1912. 

 Mar. 1912. 

 June 1912. 



Nov. 1912. 



June 1912. 



Mar. 24, 1914. 



1912. 



1911-1912. 



1912. 



Captain J. V. Macdonald, 1. M.S. 

 Lieut.-Col. Sir F. Wyville Thomson, I. M.S. 



Government of India and Principal Medical 

 Officer H.M.'s Forces in India. 



Lieut.-Col. Bailey, R.E. ; obtained by 

 Captain F. M. Bailey, Indian Political 

 Department, and Mr W. J. Ballantink, 

 C.S.I., Sadiya. 



Surgeon - General Sir A. T. Sloggett, 

 R.A.M.C.; Lieut -Col. J. Davidson, IMS. 



Lieut.-Col. Bailey, R.E. 



Lieut.-Col. J. Davidson, I.M.S. ; obtained 



by Captain R. S. Kennedy, l.M.S. 

 Major Barclay, Indian Army. 



Prepared in my laboratory. 

 Commercial. 



* < Official reports received from the Government of India, Surgeon-General Sloggett, and Major Davidson, I.M.S. 



