36 
president’s ADDRESS — SECTION B. 
an amorphous neutral, yellow, bitter principle. This investigation 
might be followed up on this species, and also on the Tasmanian 
O. renifolium , F. v. M. -> 
C u curb'd acece. — Fortunately cases of poisoning of human beings 
by indigenous plants are very rare. The Native Melon (Gucumis 
irigonus , Boxb.) is an exception ; and Dr. J. Francis Souter narrated, 
in the Australasian Medical Gazette , an instance of the poisoning of 
a child of three, which was happily followed by recovery under the 
practitioner’s care. The chemical composition of this fruit has (as 
far as Indian-srrown specimens are concerned) been partially examined 
by Dymock, Warden, and Hooper, # but no case of poisoning in that 
country appears to have been traced to the plant. It certainly is 
worthy of further investigation. Lagenaria vulgaris , Ser., is also 
poisonous. Luff a cegyptiaca , Mill., var. peramara, Bail., the Queens- 
land representative of the Towel-gourd, has a fruit which Dr. T. L, 
Bancroft describes as intensely bitter to the taste. In a few minutes 
the taste disappears, but leaves a distressing acridity in the throat, 
which is not at its worst until several hours afterwards. He also 
states that an extract is very poisonous, and contains two principles — 
a bitter substance and a saponin. This interesting research has not 
been completed, and I would suggest that a chemist isolate these two 
principles. 
Cornacem. — Dr. T. L. Bancroft reports that he has found in 
Marlea viiiensis, Benth., an alkaloid which, however, he has failed to 
crystallise. He reports that it is probably not emetine, “although it 
probably belongs to the group of poisons of which emetine is the 
type.”t I would invite the attention of the chemist to this plant. 
Rubiacece . — Search might be instituted for plants which contain 
emetine. The best known plant which contains it is of course Cephaelis 
ipecacuanha , DC., a Bubiaeeous plant; while the so-called Striated 
Ipecacuanha ( Psijchotria emetica , Mutis) also contains it. The 
roots of our species of Psy choir ia (some of which are exceedingly 
abundant) might well be examined for emetine, and the investigation 
might profitably be extended to others of our indigenous Bubiacete. 
A plant yielding a popular “bitter” is the Leichhardt Tree 
(Sarcocephalus cordalitSy Micj.). It is found in Asia and the Pacific 
Islands, as well as in Queensland; but its bitter principle has never, so 
far as I can learn, attracted the attention of the chemist. Dr. T. L. 
Bancroft^ deprecates its use as a substitute for quinine. Mr. N. Iloltze 
suggests that the w r ood would make excellent “bitter-cups.” 
Sapoiacere. — Some years ago, at the instigation of the late Dr. 
Joseph Bancroft, Mr. Staiger analysed the bark of Achras laurifolia , 
F. v. M., and found it to yield 30 per cent, of extract (containing 
glyeyrrhizin), and 12 per cent, of tannin. He accordingly suggested 
its use for throat lozenges. A thorough chemical examination of 
the barks of other indigenous species of Achras (and particularly 
A. australis , B. Br.) might be undertaken. A sample of the bark 
* Pharmacographia Indica, ii., 66. 
+ Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. [2], iv., 1062. 
X “Research into the Pharmacology of some Queensland Plants.” Christchurch, 
N.Z., 1888. 
