1^6 



POISONS 



black, probably due to some chemical change produced by the 

 action of lime and saliva on cocaine. Pernicious symptoms in the 

 form of emaciation accompanied by insomnia, digestive disturbance, 

 diarrhoea, deafness, diminution of urine, delusions and hallucina- 

 tions, and even at times acute mania, may appear. 



Indian hemp {Cannabis sativa) is used in India, Arabia, Persia, 

 and elsewhere as a narcotic. It must be remembered that C. sativa 

 grown in India has quite different properties from the same plant 

 grown in Europe. In India there are four varieties sold: bhang, 

 consisting of the dried leaves and stalks reduced to a powder; 

 ganja, the flowering tops; charas, the resin from the leaves; and 

 majun, a sweetmeat prepared with hemp. In Central Asia the 

 resin is called haschisch. 



Its action on man is first to produce a pleasurable excitement 

 and later narcotism. In moderate doses it temporarily increases 

 the feeling of strength and power. As an intoxicant it is much 

 used, being eaten or smoked, and is said to be one potent cause 

 of insanity in India. Waddell says that about 38-4 per cent, of 

 Bengal lunacy can be traced to this source. It is asserted to be 

 one of the causes of the strange phenomenon called * running 

 amok,' but this will be dealt with in detail later on, under diseases 

 of the nervous system. 



Kawa is an intoxicating drink prepared from the root of 

 Piper methysticum Forster (Piperacese), which grows throughout 

 Polynesia. 



According to Lewin, kawa contains starch, flour, two inactive 

 substances — kawain and yangonin — and 2 per cent, of resin, which 

 is believed to be the active principle. But this resin, by treatment 

 with ether, can be resolved into two separate substances, one of 

 which has a v/eak, and the other a strong action on man. The 

 drink causes a feeling of hien-etre, but too much has an evil effect, 

 with symptoms of inco-ordination and headache, and a desire for 

 sleep, and may induce liver disease, dermatitis, and general debility. 

 Taken in moderation it is said to be harmless, and also to be a 

 cure for gonorrhoea, and, as such, was introduced into Europe. 



PeyoUl (pellote) is a narcotic used in Mexico, and derived from 

 the cactus, Anhalonium lewinii Henn. It causes sleep with 

 hallucinations. 



Coriaria species — C. ruscifolia Linnaeus, the poison-foot of 

 New Zealand, and C. myrtifolia Linnaeus (a native of Europe) — • 

 are considered to be intoxicant or poisonous, according to the 

 dose. The symptoms are coma, convulsions, and dilated pupils. 

 From C. ruscifolia the Maoris are said to prepare a wine and 



jelly- 



Pituri [Duboisia hopwoodi F. Mueller — Solanacese) is a shrub 

 growing in Australia and New Caledonia. In the former it is 

 found in the neighbourhood of Carlo or Mungerebar on the Upper 

 Mulligan, and from this in scattered patches eastwards. At Carlo 

 live the Ulaolinga tribes, from whom the other tribes purchase 



