xii 



FOBEWORD 



capacity has done much for the advancement of 

 scientific knowledge. By his far-sighted policy in 

 publishing a work which must of necessity have a 

 somewhat limited sale he has shown that true interest 

 in the advancement of medical knowledge for which 

 he is so much appreciated. 



From a careful study of this work I am quite cer- 

 tain that many of the animal and vegetable poisons 

 described by Dr. Gimlette have potent active principles 

 which would find a useful place amongst modern 

 therapeutic remedies. For example, no less than 

 eighteen of the animal poisons and twenty-three of 

 the vegetable poisons mentioned have midetermined 

 active principles. 



What a field of research is open to the physiologist 

 and pharmacologist ! 



To quote one instance — Dr. Gimlette in 1919 sent me 

 a number of Ibul nuts from Kelantan, and these on 

 extraction were found to contain an active principle 

 having a very pronounced effect on the heart, pro- 

 longing diastole and strengthening systole, the details 

 of which research are being pubHshed by Br. V. G. 

 Walsh and Mr. J. Webster. There is no doubt that 

 similar investigations of other reputed poisons would 

 lead to like productive results. 



'As an old friend 'and admirer of the Author, I con- 

 gratulate him on his self-denying labours, w^hich have 

 added to the knowledge of Medicine and Toxicology 

 and point the way to fertile fields of medical 

 research. I thank him also for the privilege of 

 writing this short " Foreword " to his admirable and 

 interesting work* 



W. H. WILLCOX, 

 K.ai.E., C.B., C.M.G., M.D., F.R.C.R 

 Medical Adviser to the Bofne OJice. 



