148 MALAY POISONS AND CHARM CUBES 



be the source of delayed-action poisons, which are 

 alleged to be used by Malays and other races (see pp. 10 

 and 281), They are also able to engender antitoxins, 

 the preparation and action of which have been studied 

 by Ehi'hch and many other investigators. Much work 

 has been done to elucidate whether the protein is the 

 actual poison or whether some linked-on substance gives 

 the toxicity (ReL 8). Elf strand found that 84 mg. of 

 crotin per kilo, body-weight killed a rabbit by sub- 

 cutaneous injection in 120 hours, while 100 mg. killed in 

 43 hours, and described the haemolytic action on red 

 blood corpuscles and clumping effects (Ref, 10). 



Croton oil is freely soluble in ether and in chloroform ; 

 it may be detected by extracting it from the seeds or 

 other matters, by exhaustion vnih. ether, and then 

 recognised by its vesicating action on the skin. The 

 oil turns brown, and nitrous fumes are given off when it 

 is warmed with nitric acid. When croton oil is applied 

 to the tongue a sensation of burning and tingling occurs 

 which is similar to that caused by aconite, but no 

 anaesthesia is produced. Abrus precatorius. Linn. — 

 Leguminosae (akar saga heiina or akar heliinbing), is 

 common in seaside places in Kelantan. I have no 

 evidence that it is used by Malays for homicidal 

 purposes or for poisoning cattle, as it is in India. Jarak 

 hlarida (Jatropha curcas, Linn.—Euphorbiacese), the 

 ** physic-nut plant " or ** semina ricini majoris of old 

 pharmaceutical writers, which is allied to chengkian and 

 is common in Selangor, does not seem to be used as a 

 poison in Kelantan, although its poisonous properties 

 are known in India. 



THE IBUL PALM 



Buah ihuly the fruit of a large thornless jungle palm 

 {pokun ibul ; Orania macrocladus, Mart.— Palmee), is 



