PRELIMINARY NOTES ON THE PHARMACOLOGY OF SOME NEW POISONOUS PLANTS. By Thos. L. Bancroft, M.B., Edin. (Communicated by J. II, Maiden, F.L.S.) Laurelia Nov^-Zelandi^, a. Cunn., N.O. Monimiacese. In a bush at Waipu, province of Auckland, N.Z., June 1887, whilst in search of poisonous plants, I found the bark of the tree called by the Maoris " Pukatea " had a rather agreeable aromatic bitter taste, a little of which was gathered for experiment. Whilst at Christchurch some months later opportunity presented itself of investigating the physiological action of this and several other plants. An alcoholic extract was made, which when injected into frogs, "the introduced frog from Australia, Litoria aurea" caused rapid death. A few spasmodic jerks of the hind limbs were noticed before the animal became flaccid. The muscles, motor nerves, and heart were apparently uninfluenced. A solution of the extract in water gave the reactions of an alkaloid. Mr. Cheeseman of the Auckland Museum kindly told me the scientific name of the plant. There is only one other known species of Laurelia and that is indigenous to Chili. Laurelia is related closely to the genera Atherosperma and Daphnandra, all the species of which genera possess active pro-perties. Myoporum l^tum, Forst., N.O., Myoporinese. Preparations of this plant are poisonous to frogs. The bark contains an oil and a wax ; whether or not any other substance I did not decide. The oil, at any rate, is poisonous to frogs. Melicytus ramiflorus, Forst., N.O. Violarieae. This is a small tree with a peculiar tasting bark. An extract of it is slightly poisonous to frogs, and causes in them a good deal of secretion of the skin.
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