124 
POISONOUS  PROPERTIES  OF  THE  BOUNDOU. 
C40H21NO8+C2O4) ;  a  little  carbonic  acid  is  evolved  when  rhoea- 
dina  is  boiled  continually  with  sulphuric  acid. — Annalen  der 
Chem*  unci  Pharm.  cxl.  145 — 153. 
J.  M.  M. 
ON   THE   POISONOUS  PROPERTIES  OF  THE  BOUNDOU, 
PROOF  POISON  OF  THE  GABONESE. 
By  M.  M.  Pecholier  and  Saint  Pierre. 
The  Boundou  (Icaja  or  M'Boundou)  is  a  tree  of  the  family 
Apocynese  which  partakes,  with  other  plants  of  this  family  (Ole- 
ander) the  property  of  being  a  violent  poison.  It  is  used  in 
Gabon  (Africa)  to  prepare  the  proof  liquor  in  judicial  duels. 
(See  Thesis  of  M.  Touchard ;  Montpellier,  1864.) 
We  have  been  very  fortunate  in  procuring  some  roots  of  this 
tree,  thanks  to  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Falot,  a  distinguished  physi- 
cian of  the  Imperial  navy.  The  small  quantity  of  the  product 
has  not  permitted  us  to  undertake  a  research  for  its  active  prin- 
ciple, but  we  have  assayed  with  the  aqueous  and  alcoholic  extracts 
to  determine  the  poisonous  action  of  this  vegetable.  Several 
animals  (rabbits,  dogs,  frogs,  etc.)  have  been  poisoned  in  the 
experiments,  the  results  of  which  we  have  the  honor  to  present 
to  the  Academy. 
1st.  Boundou  contains  an  active  principle,  soluble  in  both 
water  and  alcohol. 
2d.  This  poison  has  a  mode  of  action  analagous  to  that  of  nux 
vomica ;  that  is  to  say,  its  effects  are  principally  on  the  system 
of  sensitive  nerves. 
3d.  Administered  either  by  the  stomach  or  by  the  endermic 
method,  it  produces  at  first  an  augmentation  of  the  number  of 
inspirations  and  pulsations  of  the  heart,  followed  by  a  consider- 
able diminution  of  these  movements. 
4th.  This  poison  causes  at  the  same  time  an  increase  of  sensi- 
bility, followed  by  tetanic  convulsions ;  finally,  insensibility, 
paralysis  and  death. 
5th.  Its  action  on  the  nerves  of  motion  is  but  secondary  ;  it 
does  not  effect  the  contractility  of  the  muscles.  It  is  not  a 
heart  poison ;  this  organ,  on  the  contrary,  continues  to  beat  some 
time  after  death. 
