January 4, 1873.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
523 
taking from the living plant. These specimens, 
coming from different sources, have both the outward 
appearance and anatomical structure of the major 
striated ipecacuanha. So that in this respect the 
question is completely settled. 
As to the origin of the second sort, I am obliged 
to remain in doubt. Its structure appears to differ 
too much from that of the roots of Psycliotria to 
allow of its being referred to a species of the same 
genus. It presents anatomical characters approach¬ 
ing to those of the white or undulated ipecacuanha, 
which is referred to Richardsonia scabra, St. Hil.; 
and I should not be surprised if it were to a plant of 
this genus, or at least of a very near genus, that 
this commercial sort owes its origin. I incline the 
more to this opinion, since some specimens appear, 
as it were, intermediate between the minor striated 
ipecacuanha and the undulated ipecacuanha. I have 
in my possession some fragments sent to me by Mr. 
Hanbury, labelled “ Spurious Ipecacuanha.— 
Richardsonia scabra." Now, the smallest of these 
fragments recall the minor striated ipecacuanha, 
whilst the larger approach more nearly undulated 
ipecacuanha. But, I will not dwell further upon 
a point which at present can only be matter for con¬ 
jecture. 
INDIAN OPIUM. 
The eight monthly sales of Bengal opium for the 
p>ast year and the seven months’ duty on Madras 
opium have given to the Indian Government an 
actual revenue of 762,374 rs. more than the estimate of 
the budget. 25,500 chests of Beliar and 16,500 
chests of Benares opium are to be brought forward 
for sale by public auction in 1873. The sales will 
take place in the first week of every month, com¬ 
mencing with Otli January, and terminating the 4th 
December, At each sale 2125 chests of Beliar opium 
will be offered, and 1375 chests of Benares 
opium—altogether 3500 chests at each sale. The 
opium will be ordinarily offered at an upset price 
of 800 rupees (L'80 per chest), and sold to the 
highest bidder above that price. 
THE DECOMPOSITION OF HYDRATE OF 
CHLORAL.* 
BY M. BYASSON. 
Former investigations of the author have led him 
to the conclusion that the physiological action of 
hydrate of chloral is not the same as that of chloro¬ 
form introduced slowly into the system, but that it 
is the joint result of the chloroform and the formic 
acid produced under the influence of the alkalinity 
of the blood.f He has also shown that sulphuretted 
hydrogen combines with anhydrous chloral to form 
a sulphydrate analogous to the hydrate, and like it 
having soporific properties.{ 
In the decomposition of oxalic acid by glycerine 
M. Byasson, by replacing the water by alcohol, has 
etlierified directly the formic acid, and thus obtained 
formic ether by a new process. He was also induced 
to experiment whether hydrate of chloral, which 
* Abstracted from ‘ Comptes Rendus,’ vol. lxxv. p. 1G28. 
+ Pharm. Journ. [3] II. p. 481. 
X Ibid. p. 1045. 
contains the elements of chloroform and formic acid, 
C 2 HCJ 3 0, H 2 0 = CHC1 3 + CH 2 0 2 
could be decomposed into those two bodies without 
the intervention of alkalies. The following experi¬ 
ment, repeated several times, always yielded concor¬ 
dant results :—If hydrate of chloral be dissolved in 
five times its weight of syrupy glycerine, and the 
mixture heated in a retort furnished with a receiver, 
at about 110° C., a regular action is established which 
continues up to about 230° ; at tliis temperature the 
glycerine is strongly coloured, and becomes thick, 
and it is advisable to stop the operation so as not to 
complicate the results. The product condensed in 
the receiver is liquid, and separates into two layers ; 
the underneath layer consists of chloroform, the 
upper one contains formic acid, hydrochloric acid, 
formate of allyl, and hydrate of chloral dissolved in 
water. The proportion of chloroform produced as 
the mean of three operations, was 31 per cent, of the 
hydrate of chloral. The formation of the formate of 
allyl is secondary, as also that of the hydrochloric 
acid. These two bodies are relatively in small 
quantity, and proceed, the first from the decomposi¬ 
tion of glycerine under the influence of heat and 
nascent formic acid ; the second from the decomposi¬ 
tion of chloroform. In order to obtain the above 
results it is important to use syrupy glycerine ; if 
water be added, the greater part of the hydrate of 
chloral distils over without being decomposed. 
THE KOMBE ARROW POISON (SIR0PHANTHU3) 
OP AFRICA.* 
BY DR. THOMAS 11. PHASER. 
In nearly every narrative of exploration in uncivilized 
tropical regions, accounts are given, often no doubt 
somewhat fanciful, of poisonous substances which are 
said to possess the most remarkable properties. Usually 
these poisons are of vegetable origin ; and the great 
majority may be included in the two divisions of ordeal 
and of arrow poisons, according as they are applied to one 
or ether of these purposes. Among the most remarkable 
of the ordeal-poisons are the Tanghinia venifera of 
Madagascar, the Fhgsostigma venenosum of Old Calabar, 
and the Akazga poison of the Gaboon ; and of the arrovv r - 
poisons, the famous Curara or Wourali of South America, 
and th q Antiaris toxicaria of Java. 
The examination of these substances has not only 
proved of great value to physiology, but practical medi¬ 
cine has likewise been benefited—one of them, at least, 
being now an important medicinal agent. 
In bringing before the Royal Society of Edinburgh a 
few of the results of a recent examination of a new 
arrow-poison, the author expressed his gratitude to the 
President to whom he was indebted for the specimens 
with which the experiments had been made. These 
specimens, consisting of a number of ripe follicles, were 
sent to Dr. Christison by Mr. Walker, and were col¬ 
lected in the expedition of the late Bishop Mackenzie. 
Several specimens of the poison have likewise been 
sent to Professor Sharpey by Dr. Kirk, her Majesty’s 
consul at Zanzibar. Dr. Kirk states “ that the plant is a 
woody climber, growling in the forest, both of the valley 
and hills, and found at various places between the coast 
and the centre of the continent, above the Victoria Falls 
of the Zambesi. The stem is several inches in diameter, 
and rough outside. The plant climbs up the highest 
trees, and hangs from one to the other like a bush-vine. 
The flowers are of a pale yellow, and last for but a short 
* Abstracted from an article in the £ Journal of Anatomy 
and Physiology,’ vol. vii. 
