AFRICA 



183 



stimulation. Strophanthus is used on the Congo, Lake Nyassa, 

 Zambesi, Gaboon, Guinea Coast, Gold Coast, Cameroons, and 

 Senegambia as an arrow-poison. 



Adenium Arrow-Poison. — ^There are two species of Adenium 

 used in Africa — viz., A. boehmianum Schinz and ^. somalense Oliver. 



A. boehmianum, which is a shrub about ij to 2 metres in height, 

 is used by the Ovambo of German South-West Africa to prepare 

 an arrow-poison called echuja. The thickest branches or roots are 

 cut across and held over a fire, when the thick, viscid sap exudes 

 in threads, and is collected by winding it round small pieces of 

 wood. The arrow-heads are now moistened by spitting upon them, 

 and then smeared with the sap. 



The active principle is echujin, which is a very virulent cardiac 

 poison. The Somaliland species is equally virulent. 



Erythrophlceum judiciale Proct. — Its active principle is an 

 alkaloid, erythrophloem, which causes dyspnoea, first slowing and 

 then quickening of the heart, and finally death from stoppage of 

 breathing. It is used by the Pigmies of Central Africa; but the 

 principal Pigmy arrow-poison is a mixture of this with strychnine, 

 which will kill an elephant. Prompt treatment, however, is said 

 to be able to save a man's life when wounded by one of these 

 arrows. 



Munchi Arrow-Poison.- — -The Munchi arrow-poison, which is used 

 by the Backorana clan in Northern Nyeni, is said to be nearly 

 always fatal to man in about half an hour. The method of pre- 

 paration is not known, but the poison is plastered in a thick layer 

 on the long point of the barb. Tt is brittle, of a dark brown colour, 

 with slightly aromatic odour, and is insoluble in cold or warm 

 water, in normal saline or acidulated solution, but dissolves easily 

 in alkalis — e.g., i per cent. NagCOg solution. It has no alkaloidal 

 properties, and does not reduce copper sulphate in alkaline solution. 

 No fluorescence occurs with HgSO^, and there is only slight reducing 

 power after prolonged boiling with mixed acids. It acts by paralyz- 

 ing the heart and the striated skeletal muscles, but no distinct 

 action on the muscle plasm can be detected. The toxic substance 

 is thought to belong to the class of resinous acids. 



Etiphorbia candelabrum.- — This is supposed to be one of the in- 

 gredients of the poison ' ucinnga ' (meaning poison), used by the 

 Wafiomi, Wagogo, of late German East Africa. The other in- 

 gredients are not known. According to Bneger, th ^ active principle 

 is exactly the same as in Acocanthera. Rho says the Wakamba use 

 a similar poison. 



Less important African arrow-poisons are: — 

 {a) Used by the Monhattu Dwarfs — 



1. Erythrophlceum guineense G. Don., belonging to the Leguminosse, 



' of which the bark is used. 



2. Palisota barteri Bentham. 



3. Combretum grand iflorum G. Don. 



4. Strychnos icaja Baillon. 



