An Experimental Investigation concerning the 



Effects of "Tuba" Derris elliptica) 



Fish-Poison. 



By J. Argyll Campbell. 



" Tuba " is a term used by the Malays to denote various plants 

 which possess fish-poisoning properties. Derris elliptica Benth., 

 Leguminosse, is the most powerful of these plants. 



Interesting accounts of " tuba " fishing are given by George 

 Maxwell (1) and W. H. Furness (2). According to these authors 

 the root of the low climbing plant, Derris elliptica, is most com- 

 monly employed. The root is pounded by a club and then extracted 

 by soaking it in water contained in boats. The soaked root is 

 compressed and a milky-white watery fluid escapes. This fluid is 

 mixed with lime to make it sink and spread when poured into the 

 river. Previously a barricade has been erected some distance down 

 the river to prevent the fish escaping. The poison stupefies the 

 fish and they flee before it. Men in boats and on the barricade 

 scoop up the fish in nets or spear them as they come to the surface. 

 Furness says that the fish seem to be affected by suffocation. 



Eesearch has been done concerning the chemical composition 

 of this poison. M. Greshoff (3) obtained a resin which he called 

 " derrid " and which he found to resemble pachyrrhizid, timboine, 

 nicuoline and piscidine in composition. Wray (4) also isolated a 

 resinous substance which he named " tubaine." 



I can find no research concerning the actions of the poison 

 upon the living tissues, although much has been written about its 

 apparent actions. Greshoff (5) says that drinking the poison pro- 

 duces vomiting, dizziness and death. He records a case of suicide 

 in Java. Bidley (6) mentions that " tuba " poison is speedily 

 fatal to man when swallowed or to fish when in contact with the 

 gills; and that it is used by Malays as an abortifacient (7). Gim- 

 lette (8)- gives a good deal of information. Fish stupefied by 

 the poison can be eaten with impunity by man. Chinese use the 

 poison extensively as an insecticide, especially for spraying pepper 

 vines. It is put into wells with criminal intent, but death seems 

 to be rare. A decoction is used by Malay girls to produce abortion ; 

 death sometimes occurs owing to uterine haemorrhage. Acute cases 

 of poisoning are characterised by fixation of the jaws. In Borneo 

 the Dyak girls use it to commit suicide. It is also mixed with 

 " ipoh " poison by the Sakei in preparation of dart poison for blow 

 pipes. 



Jour. Straits Branch R. A. Soc, No. 73, 1916. 



