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Strychnos (Strychnos
Toxifera) contains within its bark
curare used by the Indians of the northern part of South
America as an arrow poison. The plant was brought back
to England by Sir Walter Raleight in 1595 from Guiana
on
his return from one of his buccaneering voyages and was
described in his book Discovery of the Large, Rich
and
Beautiful Empire of Guiana. A larger quantity
curare was
later found to be obtainable from another plant
Chondodendron tomentosum. Curare produces a paralysant
effect only on injection; they are harmless when taken
by
mouth so that a wound inflicted by a poisoned arrow can
safely be sucked in the absence of any oral lesion. When
injected intravenously, curare causes ptosis and paralysis
of the recti. It was recommended for cataract surgery
to
maintain immobility of the globe. |
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