March 1907.] 



163 



Edible Products, 



There is a general belief that Cassava yams are rendered especially dangerous 

 when the venomous snakes— the Tic Polonga or the Naya (Cobra)— resorts to the 

 plants. It happens in this way. The Cassava is an underground stem, but the 

 tubers in the course of development spring to the surface, and the earth cracks 

 above them. The reptiles bite the surface tubers in their movements. The leaves 

 of such snake-attacked plants are distinguished bv their curls at the apex, as in the 

 Niy cigala (Gloriosa superba). When these yams are boiled, the water assumes a 

 reddish hue ; such yams should be rejected. 



The Cassava tubers have two pericaps, the exterior one being a thin succulent 

 skin, and the other, a creamy white, strong rind sheathing the tuber. Both these 

 are poisonous, and should be removed before boiling for food. There is another 

 fibrous midrib in the core of the tubers called the " Naratiya." This is also dangerous 

 and should be thrown away. 



The yams of all the varieties should be dug before the plants blossom. The 

 boiled yams should be eaten immediately after cooking and should never be taken 

 on an emxDty stomach. It is never advisable to eat Cassava alone for dinner without 

 a mixed diet, nor should the yams be kept long after being dug up ; a fungus soon 

 develops on any part that is cut, broken or bruised. The poison is known to be 

 prussic or hydracanic acid. 



In Manioc cultivation, sometimes the portion towards the roots of the cuttings 

 get mixed up, and instead of the root end, the upper portion is planted in the hole. 

 The poison is also attributed to this accidental method of planting, which is described 

 as " Agamula maruvenava." Cattle-trespasses on Manioc plantations tends to 

 make the tubers hardened and render them very indigestible. As a precautionary 

 measure, the villagers, when boiling Cassava, invariably add the leaves of the 

 Mururiga, (Moringa pterggospernia), Tora, pepper (piper nigrum) or guava with or 

 without a mixture of turmeric or the green fruits of the Papaw. This has been 

 tried and found to be very efficacious, as the poisonous effects are entirely dispelled 

 by this means. To test the existence of poison, sometimes a silver ring is cast into 

 the pot, and should it get blackened, it is an indication of the existence of the 

 noxious substance. It appears the Tamils also put a copper coin into the water 

 with Tora or Murunga leaves to counteract the poison. Some Kandyans smear 

 over the tubers with chunam during boiling. This is also considered a good 

 antidote for suppressing the mischievous effects. In every case, however, the 

 yams should be thoroughly boiled and the water drained off. An additional pre- 

 ventative is to boil the Cassava in coconut milk with a dilution of salt. 



SYMPTOMS AND REMEDIES. 



Persons of a bilious temperament are the most liable to be attacked. Cases 

 have been recorded of persons who have partaken of the same Cassava tubers in 

 common, some have died of the effects, a few recovered, while others have suffered 

 no ill-effects whatever. 



THE OPERATION OP THE POISON ON THE SUFFERERS. 



Sufferers first produce symptoms of a heavy intoxication or giddiness, 

 followed by excessive vomiting and purging. The bodies turn icy cold. The 

 patients become wholly unconscious and fall down fainting. Medical aid should 

 be sought at the first indication of the illness ; it is often difficult to bring a victim 

 round when the illness has gained ground and the man is in a state of collapse, 

 Aud if time is lost, recovery is often impossible. The illness is of such a short 

 duration, that the sufferer of last evening is a corpse this morning. 



THE COMMON NATIVE REMEDIES 



For Manioca poisoning consist of a decoction of the leaves of the Peril 

 (guava) or Evariga, or an extract of the green fruits of the Kabarang"- ; Kitul or 

 Palmyrah jaggery dissolved in lime juice, coconut-milk mixed with KatvU (ye/U, 



