POISONOUS TREE OF NEW GUINEA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5641, 29 April 1879, Page 3

POISONOUS TREE OF NEW GUINEA.

The murder of several teachers in connection with the London Missionary Society, by the natives of New Guinea placing a poisonous tree in the water from which they drank, was brought under the notice of Baron Ferd. von Mueller by the Kev. >J. Jefferis. The following is the Baron’s reply, written under date April 3 :—“ As you may imagine, reverend sir, I am much interested in the subject of the poison tree of New Guinea, brought by you so considerately under my notice. A painful history is now attached to this tree after the brutal action of the barbarians towards the poor teachers. A deep medical interest is also .involved in this question, because if we only could find out what this dreadful tree’s relation may be to allied plants we might all the more easily be enabled to trace out an antidote, or be guided in our efforts to adopt a medical treatment to counteract the effects of this poison. And more, we might, perhaps, succeed, from physiological experiments, in turning even this gift of an always beneficient Divine Creator to therapeutic advantage, just as we gained from the deadly " ordeal bean” (Physostigma venenosum), a highly efficient remedy in tetanus, also for the contraction of the pupil in opthalmic surgery, also against strychnia, Ac. Unfortunately I have not obtained a clue to the systematic position of this tree from the two leaves sent by you. It is quite possible that the New Zealand poison tree belongs to the genus Antiaris,- that genus being represented by species more or less poisonous ; also, in Arnheim’s Land, in tropical Asia and Africa, and in Tonga, as far as known. But the New Guinea poison tree may just as well be referrable, perhaps, to an euphorbiaceous genus, there being many instances of highly poisonous euphorbiaceas existing in Polynesia. It would thus be of great importance that the flowers and fruit of this new dangerous species should be secured. This reminds me, also, of the circumstance that I have tried in vain for years to obtain the flowers and fruit of the laurinaoeous tree, which furnishes the aromatic bark in iS'ew Guinea so often offered in barter. Pray express to the brave Mr. Chalmers my deep condolation at the sad bereavement sustained by the rev. gentleman, in the death of his heroic lady.”