136 CONCERNING THE EFFECTS OF "TUBA" FISH-POISON. 



It should be easy enough to detect the presence of "tuba" poison 

 in the stomach contents by simply testing the effects, after boiling 

 and filtering, of some of the fluid upon small fish, seeing that they 

 are killed by very weak solutions of the poison. 



The treatment indicated is that for poisons which produce 

 muscular weakness and paralyse the respiratory centre. The 

 natives of Sarawak administer sugar and cold baths. (8). 



Conclusions. 



(1) "Tuba" fish-poison (Derris elliptica) causes death by 

 paralysing the respiratory centre in the medulla. The sap from 

 2 gm. weight of the root when administered by mouth, is sufficient 

 to kill a monkey (Macacus nemestpinus) . 



(2) It usually stimulates the respiratory centre before de- 

 pressing it. 



(3) It causes great weakness, because it weakens both volun- 

 tary and involuntary muscle and because it produces a great fall 

 of blood pressure. 



(4) It has no action upon the heart muscle or heart nervous 

 mechanism. 



(5) It produces a marked fall of blood pressure because 

 it greatly weakens the muscle of the vessel walls, thus causing 

 dilatation. 



(6) It causes vomiting probably by stimulating the vomiting 

 centre in the medulla; but, after swallowing large doses, sufficient 

 poison to cause death is absorbed even if vomiting occurs. 



(7) Fish poisoned by "tuba" can be eaten with impunity 

 by man, because fish are killed by very small quantities of the 

 poison. 



(8) It is not antiseptic and its poisonous action is less marked 

 ■on the lower members of the animal kingdom than on the more 

 highly organised members. It kills mosquitce larvae and tadpoles 

 hut it is less toxic to these than to fish. 



I am indebted to Dr. Hanitsch of The Baffles Museum and 

 to Mr. I. H. Burkill of The Botanical Gardens, for assistance with 

 the literature. 



References. 



1. George Maxwell. "In Malay Forests," page 246, 1907. 



2. W. H. Furness. " Home-life of Borneo Head Hunters," page 



185, 1902. 



3. M. GreshofL Mededeelingen nit 'Slands Plantentuin XXV, 



page 49. 



4. L. Wray. Pharmaceutical Journal, 1892. 



5. M. GreshofT. Mededeelingen uit 'Slands Plantentuin XXIX, 



page 175. 



6. H. X. Eidley. Agricultural Bulletin, Straits Settlements, page 



218, 1898. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



