= a ie ees ll 
; CORIARIA RUSCIFOLIA. 991 
He characterizes the oil as ‘‘ somewhat viscid at common temperature, but 
flowing freely at a little above this; colour, pale-green; reaction, acid; taste, 
bland ; burns away rapidly with much flame; scarcely volatile without decom- 
‘Position ; soluble in ether, alcohol, and strong acetic acid ; insoluble in hydro- 
-chloric or nitric acid, also insoluble in water; does not dry when long exposed 
to the air.” Mr. Skey adds: “If further experiments should confirm the 
accuracy of the views here stated, this case will, I conceive, become invested 
with an interest beyond that immediately under our notice, since it will afford 
another instance in which a non-nitrogenous oily principle is proved to affect 
the system like a neurotic poison: this class of poisons being almost always 
alkaloids, or at least nitrogenous substances.” 
; Mr. Skey recommends as antidotes to be used in cases of tutu poisoning, 
“in addition to emetics and purgatives, very dilute acids, as tending to prevent 
_ saponification of the oil and to keep it insoluble.’’* 
An interesting paper on this subject by Mr. H. G. Hughes, with an account 
of experiments by Dr. Acheson, appeared in the ‘Transactions of the New 
Zealand Institute’”’ for 1870:}+ the paper is much too long to be given in extenso, 
but one or two paragraphs may be quoted with advantage. Mr. Hughes 
obtained an extract from ground-shoots of tutu, which was found to possess very 
active properties: ‘‘he took less than one-twelfth of a erain, which in five 
minutes’ time produced a most disagreeably irritating sensation in the throat, 
extending to the stomach, with pain across the region of the stomach, and 
accompanied by nausea. In a quarter of an hour’s time vomiting came on, 
which continued more or less for two hours. Very unpleasant sen&ations con- 
tinued more or less for two hours longer, when, after great flushing of the 
face, with all but intolerable heat, the effects passed away.’ When preparing 
the extract Mr. Hughes found that ‘handling the wet shoots rather frequently 
induced vomiting.’’ About half a scruple of the extract was given to a cat, 
which was found dead twenty minutes afterwards. The poisonous properties of 
the extract were unimpaired on the second day, but diminished on the third, 
and completely disappeared on the fourth. Dr. Acheson found that a mixture 
of lime and water administered to a dog that had previously taken a drachm of 
the extract was a complete antidote to the effects of the poison, although at the 
time it was administered the dog was exhibiting pure tetanic convulsions. Dr. 
_ Acheson adds: ‘‘From what I have seen I am persuaded that lime is an 
antidote against the tutu poison.” 
Mr. Skey objected to some of the conclusions arrived at by Mr. Hughes, 
and prepared a paper in reply, which does not appear to have been printed. 
A common practice, when cattle are poisoned by tutu, is to bleed at the 
ear, and administer vinegar or dilute acetic acid. When sheep are poisoned, 
the head is kept as erect as possible, and vinegar is administered. 
During the late autumn and winter months sheep eat the tips of half-woody 
or woody shoots without apparent injury, the poisonous principle having lost 
much of its activity. Sheep and cattle living in tutu districts rarely suffer from 
poisoning except in spring, but, when brought from enclosed paddocks into wild 
country, they often suffer severely, especially if they have fasted during the 
journey. 
Horses rarely eat tutu, even when suffering from hunger, and rabbits are 
unfortunately proof against its poison. 
* Trans, N.Z. Inst., Vol. 1., p. 154. t Ibid., Vol. 111., p. 237. { Ibid., Vol. 111., p. 243. 
