176 
The sleepers are most probably Eucalyptus marginata , the “ Jarrah,” but 
I have never heard of Jarrah being accused of being irritant before. I could obtain 
no further information in Western Australia. 
I shall be glad of particulars in regard to the supposed irritant character of 
Eucalyptus timbers from any part of Australia. 
CONIEERiE. 
Thuja Dottglasii, Carr.—A curious case of a woman being poisoned by 
handling the branches and leaves of this tree while gardening is recorded by 
Neudorffer in the Centralb. f. Innere Medicin* 
The symptoms were spasmodic convulsions, dyspnoea, and coma. Other persons appear to have 
been more or less affected who were working at the same employment. It appears probable, therefore, 
that the tree, which is cultivated for ornamental purposes, contains some poisonous ingredient to which 
some persons are more susceptible than others. 
I admit this plant to the present list with doubt. But attention should be 
widely drawn to such a well-known tree, in order that we may ascertain what are 
the real facts of the danger of handling it. 
It will be noted below that the wood of the Yew ( Taxus baccata ) and of 
the Savin ( Juniperus sabina) are irritant. 
Euphoebiacea:. 
Exccccaria agallocha, L.; Exccecaria parvifolia, Muell., Arg.—‘‘ Blind your 
eyes.” These two yield an acrid juice which is more or less volatile, and which, if 
it gets into the eyes, will produce temporary loss of sight and other local irritation. 
Both are natives of Australia, and the latter also of the East Indies. 
Concerning it Dr. Eoxworthy, op. cit., says :— 
Exccecaria agallocha, L., the “eye-blinding plant” of India, is of evil repute. The wood contains 
an extremely acrid dark-coloured gum, which is very irritant in contact with the skin, and is said to 
cause blindness if rubbed on the eyes. It is said that the coolies who work this wood for charcoal 
suffer a great deal from the effects of the fumes of the burning wood. 
APPENDIX I. 
Poisonous Woods. 
A number of woods show in less or more degree during their technical use disturbances of health. 
Some of these are woods which possess neither odoriferous nor colouring matter, and the opinion that these 
bodies are the source of the poisonous action is, therefore, untenable. Amongst indigenous woods the 
following possess poisonous properties : Taxus baccata, Juniperus sabina, Cytisus laburnum, Rhus tiphina, 
Rhus Cotinus, and Coriaria myrtifulia. These, however, are seldom used, and then only in small pieces. 
Of foreign woods, poisonous properties have been found in Buxus sempervirens, Ilippomane mancinella, 
Exccccaria agallocha, Amyris balsamiftra, Convolvulus scoparius, and Santalum album, and various satin 
woods.—J. Grossman (Bayr. Ind-u. Gewerbebl., 1910, 51 ; through Jahresber d. Pharm., 45, 12, 1911), in 
The Pharmaceutical Journal and Pharmacist. 
Xouv. Item., 1903, 65. Quoted in Pharmaceutical Journal, 21st March, 1903, p. 422. 
