i68 



POISONS 



and finally dies from cardiac failure. The post-mortem reveals 

 dilatation of the right side of the heart, which is full of blood, while 

 the left side is empty, with subendocardial hcemorrhage, congestion 

 of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs, mucosa of the stomach and 

 small intestine, while the large intestine and brain are normal. The 

 patient must be treated on the same lines as for digitalis and strych- 

 nine poisoning. 



The Oro. — The oro (a cactus) of Sierra Leone is a gastro-intestinal 

 irritant, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, collapse, and death. 



Paullinia pinnata (Sapindacese) is said by Rho to be used by 

 negro slaves in Brazil to poison their masters, and to depend upon 

 an alkaloid, timboin, for its action. Adverting to our remarks on 

 Melicocca, we may note that the seeds of P. sorbilis are the source 

 of the ' Guarana * bread of Brazilian aborigines, used when travelling 

 and as a remedy, being said to be a stomachic, febrifuge and aphro- 

 disiac. 



Sahlier crepitans Linnaeus, also named Hura crepitans (Euphorbi- 

 aceas), grows in the Antilles, and has been imported into tropical 

 Africa, Its fruit is purgative, and is believed to be used frequently 

 for criminal purposes, being said to produce violent vomiting and 

 purging, with tenesmus, constriction of the throat, and syncope. 

 Rufz, however, has thrown doubt on the possibility of its really 

 being the cause of these criminal poisonings. It is to be noted 

 that the same symptoms are produced by Croton tiglium Linnaeus 

 (Euphorbiaceae), which is found in India, Cochin China, tropical 

 America, and Africa. 



Spigelia anthelmia Linnaeus (Loganiaceae) has the reputation of 

 being very poisonous, and has been used criminally in tropical 

 America, in Brazil, and the Antilles, where it is still used as an 

 anthelmintic. It is said to produce somnolence, convulsions, and 

 death. 



Strychnos. — Strychnos (Loganiaceae) is a genus with several 

 poisonous species, among which may be mentioned — ■ 



Strychnos nux vomica Linnaeus. 

 Strychnos ignatii Bergmann. 

 Strychnos colubrina Linnaeus. 



Poisoning by the alkaloid strychnine is frequently met with in 

 India, but is usually accidental. The symptoms of strychnine 

 poisoning are bitter taste in the mouth, tetanic spasms, opistho- 

 tonus, risus sardonicus, and death from asphyxia or collapse. There 

 are no characteristic post-mortem appearances, except conges- 

 tion of the brain and spinal cord. The treatment is to empty the 

 stomach by emetics, and to administer chloroform or chloral 

 hydrate, and, when asphyxia threatens, to perform artificial 

 respiration. 



Thevetia ahovai. — T. ahovai (Apocynaceae) is allied to the oleanders 

 mentioned above, and has an alkaloid, thevetosin, said to cause 

 gastric irritation and difficulty of breathing. 



