88 
Keans one was an adult kling woman and others children varying 
beans, one * was an * the to Caledonia Hospital for 
they'’ were Caledonia' coolies. One of the children died and two 
others shortly after. The children were brought along in a cart 
and the woman not being so ill came walking to the Hospital. O 
adm sslon the children Ao were alive were found unconscious and 
koth’mg^ltom the mouth. Dr. SKAE was sent for and on Ins arrival 
the vouWest child and the woman were alive but collapsed vv t 
widely difated pupils. Emetics were administered and the woman 
vomited up rice and particles of the beans. 
The Company for experimental purposes has for some three 
tbe compa y of beans from Mauritius m the 
years been plan 1 | d; t 5 vay f rom the lines. The coolies 
watedTgain^ usTng tlJse beans. On the morning of 
- ‘th these children had gone out to gather greens. hey came 
across beans in pods growing in the fields which they thought re- 
1 Ft Wans ! lev were accustomed to eat in India, and a quantity 
sembled l e h - b 0 f which their mother made curry. 
Tte chihfren ateThe curry about 2 p.h, The mother too ate some 
of the curry but finding it bitter did not lake much 1 owards even- 
■ J the children complained of giddiness and vomited up the foo l 
soon after they were found convulsed and unconscious with froth- 
ingr from the mouth. 
On the 20 th I held a post mortem on the bodies of the three 
children particles of the beans were found ill the stomach. he 
Children, pa of the intestines and the kidneys were 
S p < crhtlv congested. The blood was dark fluid. In the brain the 
slightly con e , | the vessels on the surface very much 
rand there was an appreciable quantity of fluid in the skull cavity 
and 'in the ventricles. Vhe brain substance .tself presented a very- 
moist appearance. 
The woman and the youngest child have since quite recovered. 
.... s . nmac h with their contents of the deceased and other parts 
of the viscera were collected and made over to the police lor trails- 
mission to Singapore for analysis. 
I am sending von by post a packet of the beans and specimen ol 
the plant. Will'lyon kindly let me know the name of the plant. 
] have, etc., 
ED. T. FOSTON, 
Colonial Surgeon. 
The Principal Civil Medical Officer , 
Singapore, 
Fibre of Agave Americana - 
sent from Assam. The fibre 
appearance, yellowish, white 
-Samples of libre of this plant were 
was coarse hut clean and of good 
in colour and with a line gloss, 
