130 CONCERNING THE EFFECTS OF ''TUBA" FISH-POISON. 



Preparation of the Poison. 



In my research the extract was prepared in the same way as 

 Malay fishermen prepare it. When necessary the root was not 

 extracted with water, but with Binger's physiological saline solu- 

 tion (XaCl .9%; KOI .01%; Ca.(PQ 4 )2 to saturation). It 

 was then filtered and boiled. These processes do not interfere with 

 its toxic properties and the fluid is still milky-white. The poison 

 passes very slowly through parchment; only one seventieth part of 

 the poison passes through in five days, so that it seems to be in 

 colloidal solution. The extract keeps at least for a week. In most 

 cases the extract was prepared fresh when required. The speci- 

 men of the root used by me, was kept for three months in a cup- 

 board and retained its full powers all that time. 



The extract is not antiseptic. Organic matter soaked in it 

 soon putrefies at ordinary room temperature (28 C). 



The extract is faintly acid in reaction. It has an acrid taste 

 and smell. The taste persists for a long time; strong solutions 

 cause slight numbness of the gums and mouth about ten minutes 

 after tasting. 



I have not attempted to separate the active substance, but 

 I have investigated the actions of the extract as used by the natives. 



In estimating the strengths of the solutions used, I have taken 

 1 gm. by weight of the root in 100 cubic centimeters of water as 

 1 in 100 solution. 



Before performing any experiments, the milky extract to be 

 used was first tested to prove that it was capable of killing fish. 

 It never failed to do this. A given weight of the root contains a 

 constant quantity of the poison and kills fish in a definite time. 



Effects on Different Animals. 



Effects on Fish. Fish, Opliioce plied us gachua, Buch.-Ham., 

 of about fifty grammes weight were used. Solutions as weak as 

 1 in 100,000" are fatal to these fish. Wray (9) found that 1 in 

 350,000 of the isolated resin " tubaine " kills fish in half an hour. 

 Greshoff (9) obtained the same results with a much weaker solu- 

 tion of the resin " derrid." 



The symptoms of poisoning as observed by myself are constant. 

 In a solution 1 in 4500 the fish becomes agitated almost at once 

 and swims about wildly at the surface of the water taking in 

 mouthfuls of air which escapes into the water by the gill slits. 

 In two minutes time the fish is lying on its side at the bottom of 

 the vessel, breathing slowly and deeply. In another five minutes 

 the breathing stops, the fins twitch, but reflex movements can be 

 elicited for another three minutes. The fish dies eleven minutes 

 after immersion. A solution 1 in 12,000 kills in twenty eight 

 minutes, a solution 1 in 50,000 in eighty three minutes. The fish 



Jour. Straits Branch 



