Poisonous Berries

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 99, 30 January 1886, Page 3

Poisonous Berries

In a recent issue of the News, there appeared a telegram to the effect that a child had been poisoned by eating the berries of the karaka tree, and it was further stated that the fruit of this tree was wholesome at some seasons. As there are many new arrivals in the colony who are not aware of the poisonous nature of the karaka and tutu, it may not be amiss to state that when the karaka is ripe the outer pulp : is of a yellow colour and can be eaten with impunity, but the inner kernel should never be eaten unless it has been previously steeped in water for several days and cooked in a Maori oven. The Maoris are well aware of this fact, but with all their knowledge and care cases of poisoning occasionally occur. The effect is somewhat similar to that of strychnine, .and but fevr instances of recovery are recorded. One case resulted in the victim surviving, but becoming completely paralysed in his lower limbs. The juice of the tutuy expressed from its grape-like branches was the only intoxicant the . Maoris were acquainted with before the advent of the ,- Europeans. The small seed contained in the berry is the dangsrous element, two or three of these being sufficient to cause death. If the tutu juice was carefully strained through a mat (in old times), or a flannel bag (in the civilised days), and the seeds carefully extracted, it ceased to be poisonous, but was a strong intoxicant. Tutu juice was also mixed with an esculent seaweed, and cooked into a kind oi jelly-like mixture. This had no bad effects. Persons poisoned by the seede of the tutu generally show the following symptoms : — Giddiness, chattering of the teeth, foaming at the mouth, and strong convulsions. In one case a Maori chief bit his tongue through He recovered, but it spoilt his oratorical powers for ever. The main remedy for tutu poisoning was to keep tht person constantly moving between thf attacks, and during the fits to plungt him. into oold water. In cases oi cattle being poisoned by eating the young juicy shoots of the tutu in the spring season of the yea?, ammonu has been successfully administered.— Auckland Weekly News.