SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, SEPTEMBER 28. CCXXV 



The recorded cases of poisoning by the berries of S. nigrum are not 

 numerous, and have usually occurred in children. The death of three 

 children is recorded by Hirtz, ' Gaz. Med. de Strasbourg,' in 1842, and 

 other cases by Mauray, ' Gaz. des Hop,' 1869, J. B. Montaine, ' Chirn. 

 Med.' 1862, and by Ed. Manners, 'Med. Jour.' 1867. The facts con 

 cerning cases of poisoning by the berries of S. nigrum require confirma- 

 tion. Even the statement concerning the poisonous action of solanine 

 and its dose need careful revision, for it is highly probable that much of 

 the solanine used by investigators has been impure, and may have con- 

 tained decomposition products, since solanine is easily split up by various 

 re-agents. Doses of more than quarter-grain, to commence with, would 

 be considered unsafe for medicinal purposes. An excellent summary of 

 what is known of its physiological action will be found in Dupuy, ' Des 

 Alcaloides,' pp. 503-521, and in the ' United States Dispensatory,' 1907 

 (19th ed.), pp. 1654-5. Eeference may also be made to Kobert, 

 'Lehrbuch der Intoxihationen,' pp. 759 and 1057, regarding the recorded 

 cases of presumed poisoning by solanine in Potatos. With reference to 

 the use of the berries of Solanum nigrum as food : first, it is quite pos- 

 sible that in a luxuriant, cultivated form of the plant the amount of 

 solanine might be reduced considerably, and the fruit prove edible. 

 Secondly, the fruit, when boiled, especially in the presence of vegetable 

 acids, might be less likely to produce unpleasant symptoms than the raw 

 fruit, since the decomposition of solanine might take place, and solani- 

 dine, which is usually set free, is reported to be non-irritant. Thirdly, 

 the berries have no doubt been largely eaten in the United States, and, 

 so far as I am aware, no dangerous results have followed. Fourthly, 

 some persons are unusually sensitive to the alkaloids of belladonna, and 

 it is quite possible that cases of idiosyncrasy may occur with regard to 

 solanine. That solanine itself can produce distinct physiological action 

 there can be no doubt, but how far the symptoms attributed to it are 

 due to pure solanine has not yet been proved. Fifthly, it is also possible 

 that, as in the Potato, the percentage of solanine present in Solanum 

 nigrum may vary according to the age and condition of the fruit, whether 

 ripe or unripe, and to other circumstances of difference in season as 

 regards light and heat. But there is no need apparently to add a fruit 

 of such doubtful utility, and so lacking in good qualities to the list of 

 more palatable fruits already in the market." 



Hybrid Willows. — Mr. Fraser, F.L.S., showed six hybrid forms of 

 Willow, recorded in British floras and other botanical works as Salix 

 ambigua. Most authorities are agreed that S. ambigua is a hybrid 

 between Salix aurita and S. repens. No two of the forms are exactly 

 alike, but four of them approach S. aurita more closely than the other 

 parent. He explained this by the fact that the parents in the wild state 

 are extremely variable, and consequently one might expect the hybrids 

 to be equally variable. Two of the forms approached more nearly to 

 S. repens in shape, variation, and character of the hairs. While the 

 leaves of the six forms showed affinity with one or other parent, the cat- 

 kins were most nearly like those of S. repens in size and other particu- 

 lars. All the above he preferred to name by using the names of the 

 parents, namely, Salix aurita x repens. He also showed another hybrid 



