COCCULUS INDICUS
The fruit of Cocculus Indicus, Anamirta paniculata (N.O. Menispermaceæ), is poisonous, and is frequently used by poachers to capture fish. The berries are ground to powder, mixed with bread, and then thrown into the water. When taken by the fish, they become stupefied, float to the surface, and are then taken.
The poisonous properties are due to a crystalline alkaloid, Picrotoxin. Fraudulent publicans have used this drug for the adulteration of beer. The strength of the beer is first reduced by the addition of salt and water, and then the cocculus indicus is added, to give to it an intoxicating property. The effect produced on the unfortunate customers is a strong desire to sleep, with more or less wakefulness. Loss of voluntary power is present, but consciousness is not lost, the sufferer lying in a state bordering on nightmare. Cocculus is not used in medicine or the arts, and yet a large quantity is imported, and mysteriously disappears in this country.
Symptoms.—The symptoms which have been noticed in poisoning by this substance are—nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pains, stupor, and intoxication. Two deaths at least have been reported as resulting from it. In the case of R. v. Cluderay, “the defendant administered to a child two cocculus indicus berries, entire in the pod, with intent to murder the child.” The kernel is a poison; the pod is not, and will not dissolve in the stomach; and they were therefore harmless. This was held to be administering poison with intent to murder, within the section of the Statute.
Picrotoxin, the alkaloid, is in fine white crystals, intensely bitter to the taste, soluble in boiling water, slightly so in cold. Alcohol and ether readily dissolve it. Strong nitric acid dissolves it, without change of colour; and sulphuric acid produces an orange-yellow colour, changed to pale yellow by dilution. In organic liquids it might be mistaken for sugar, or vice versa, as it precipitates the oxide of copper when boiled with the sulphate of copper and potash. In examining beer supposed to be adulterated with picrotoxin, the beer should be acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and then shaken up with ether. On spontaneous evaporation of the ether, the picrotoxin is left in crystals.
Treatment.—Stomach pump, emetics, apomorphine subcutaneously; then chloral and the bromide of potassium. Chloroform may be inhaled. Paraldehyde is said to be a specific antidote.