1878.] On the Poisonous Principle 0/ Urechites Suberecta. 309 



fluting in the ultra-violet are absolute prolongations of a fine series of 

 Fraunhofer lines in which the wonderful rhythm of the elements of 

 the flutings is fully retained. 



Angstrom has already shown that the true carbon lines which we get 

 when a coil and jar are employed are not reversed in the spectrum of 

 the sun. I have already shown that the calcium spectrum in the sun 

 is the spectrum of the spark, and not of the arc. 



The carbon vapour then exists not only in a more complicated mole- 

 cular condition (as is evinced by the flutings) than the metallic 

 vapours in the sun's atmosphere, but at a lower temperature. 



It must, therefore, exist above the chromosphere, that is, in a region of 

 lower temperature. Lower pressure is also indicated by the feeble 

 reversal. 



The idea I put forward some time ago that the outer atmosphere of 

 the sun (and possibly the composition of the outer planets) is more 

 metalloidal than metallic is strengthened by this observation. 



V. " On the Physiological Action of the Poisonous Principle of 

 Urechites Suberecta." By James John BoWREY, F.C.S., 

 M.I.C., Analytical Chemist to the Government of Jamaica. 

 Communicated by Professor A. W. WILLIAMSON, Foreign 

 Secretary of the Royal Society. Received March 22, 1878. 



Several species of Echites are common in Jamaica, and certain of 

 them, known as "nightshades," or " Savana flowers," are reputed to 

 be very poisonous. In this paper I shall confine myself to a species 

 distinguished as the yellow flowered nightshade, and which Professor 

 Daniel Oliver has identified as Urechites suberecta, Muell. Arg. (Echites 

 Neriandra, Griseb.). This plant is well known to be exceedingly 

 poisonous ; frequently when I have been examining a sprig plucked at 

 the road side a passing negro has warned me to be careful as it was 

 very dangerous. 



My attention was specially directed to it by the fact that it is sup- 

 posed to have been the chief poison used by Obeah men in the time of 

 slavery. The most wonderful tales are current of the power of these 

 men, and it is even stated that they could so administer their poisons 

 as to kill immediately or after the lapse of days or weeks. 



Sloane states, " No animal will meddle with this herb, and . . 

 two drams of the expressed juice killed a dog in eight minutes, but it 

 may be so ordered as to kill a person in many days, months, or years." 

 This statement I certainly think exaggerated, but my experiments 

 show that it has some considerable foundation in fact. Sloane further 

 states, "Two or three spoonfuls of the juice purge young persons 

 upwards and downwards, bringing away worms. The milk, outwardly 



