Minutus

Just was sent this:

"A plant dubbed the suicide tree kills many more people in Indian communities
than was previously thought. The warning comes from forensic toxicologists
in India and France who have conducted a review of deaths caused by plant-
derived poisons.
"Cerbera odollam, which grows across India and south-east Asia, is used by
more people to commit suicide than any other plant, the toxicologists say.
But they also warn that doctors, pathologists and coroners are failing to
detect how often it is used to murder people.
"A team led by Yvan Gaillard of the Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology in
La Voulte-sur-Rhône, France, documented more than 500 cases of fatal
Cerbera poisoning between 1989 and 1999 in the south-west Indian state
of Kerala alone. Half of Kerala's plant poisoning deaths, and one in 10 of
all fatal poisonings, are put down to Cerbera.
"But the true number of deaths due to Cerbera poisoning in Kerala could be
twice that, the team estimates, as poisonings are difficult to identify by
conventional means."

Are there any known provings?

JW

Although the kernels of the tree have a bitter taste, this can be
disguised if they are crushed and mixed with spicy food.

They contain a potent heart toxin called cerberin, similar in structure
to digoxin, found in the foxglove.

Digoxin kills by blocking calcium ion channels in heart muscles, which
disrupts the heartbeat. But while foxglove poisoning is well known to
western toxicologists, Gaillard says pathologists would not be able to
identify Cerbera poisoning unless there is evidence the victim had eaten
the plant. "It is the perfect murder," he says.

Three-quarters of Cerbera victims are women. The team says that this may
mean the plant is being used to kill young wives who do not meet the
exacting standards of some Indian families. It is also likely that many
cases of homicide using the plant go unnoticed in countries where it
does not grow naturally.

Journal reference: Journal of Ethnopharmacology (vol 95, p 123)

Ref. Article: 'Suicide tree' toxin is 'perfect' murder weapon | New
Scientist
Address:http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996701

Seems to be from poisoning or gross doses

Robyn
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------
Cerberin
ser-ber-in. C27H40O8. A poisonous glucosid from seeds of Cerbera odollam,
probably identical with thevetin.
--------------------------------
Tanghinia venenifera, Poiret. (Madagascariensis, Pet. Th.; Cerbera tanghin,
Hook).
Thevetia nereifolia, Juss. (Cerbera thevetia, Linn.)
- Cerbera thevetia.
ser-ber-in. C27H40O8. A poisonous glucosid from seeds of Cerbera odollam,
probably identical with thevetin.
or-de-al. Casca bark, q. v. O. Bean, calabar bean; also the seed of Cerbera
tanghin, a tree of Madagascar.
Ordeal bean of Madagascar. The seed of Cerbera tanghin; it is a cardiac
poison.
Thev. Thevetia nerifolia. Cerbera thevetia. Ahovai-baum of the Antilles. N.
O. Apocynaceae. Tincture or trituration of the seeds. Historical dose: All
potencies,
Synonyms: Cerbera thevetia Linn.; English: Oleander; Hindi: Pila Kaner.
Botanical name: Cerbera tanghin Hook.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Allen T.F.

Tanghinia venenifera, Poiret. (Madagascariensis, Pet. Th.; Cerbera tanghin,
Hook).
Natural order, Apocynaceae.
Preparation, Triturations of the seed (used by the natives of Madagascar
and Eastern Coast of Africa for an ordeal).
Authority. Andrew Davidson, Journ. of Anat. and Phys., November, 1873, p.
100, effects of the nut.
Mind
- Although the mind is usually clear, yet delirium occasionally occurs. The
patient, in cases tending to a fatal issue, becomes unable to rise; in other
instances, according to the testimony of observers, he lies as if asleep,
and when roused, answers like a drowsy man, then lapses back into his former
condition; in other cases, the patient remains conscious to the last,
without either stupor or delirium.
02 head
- The sufferer is said to feel giddy under its influence; he staggers if he
attempts to walk. is unable to support his own weight, and falls down
helpless and paralyzed.
Mouth
- A Peculiar numb tingling sensation is felt in the mouth and fauces, due
to its topical action; several of those who have undergone the ordeal have
assured me that they experienced a similar feeling more or less over the
whole body, but especially in the hands.
Stomach
- Sickness ensues, with vomiting, intense, distressing, and repeated, first
of the contents of the stomach, then of bile and mucus.
Stool
- Purging and urination appear, and are more or less urgent; purging is a
bad symptom, and the worse the more urgent it is.
Extremities
- Death is preceded by spasmodic movements of the fingers and toes.
Generalities
- The vomiting is attended by a feeling of great debility and anxiety. N
TANNIN.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Clarke
Thevetia nerifolia
[THEVETIA]
Description
- Thevetia nereifolia.
- Cerbera thevetia.
- Ahovai-baum (of the Antilles).
- N. O. Apocynaceae.
- Tincture or trituration of the seeds.
Clinical
- Diarrhoea.
- Somnolence.
- Throat, affections of.
- Vomiting.
Characteristics
- J. Balfour observed the effect of eating the seeds on two boys, 8 and
61/2.
- This peculiar symptom was noted : "A tendency to sleep, disturbed every
three to four minutes by irritation in the throat, and the discharge of a
mouthful of frothy mucus with a sort of gulp; then the child would lie down
and close his eyes until again disturbed."
Relations
Compare
- Apocy.
- Stroph.
- Upas.
Symptoms
Throat
- Tendency to sleep, disturbed every three to four minutes by irritation in
the throat and discharge of a mouthful of frothy mucus with a sort of gulp;
then the child would lie down and close his eyes again until again
disturbed.
Stomach
- Vomiting.
Stool
- Bowels moved twice or thrice.
"True healing is a shift in the intent of the disease, not merely its
manifestation" (P.Alexander).

Here is another informative article on the plant and its poisoning
http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?i ... ume=33;iss
ue=4;spage=216;epage=8;aulast=Pathare

"True healing is a shift in the intent of the disease, not merely its
manifestation" (P.Alexander).
-------------------------------------------
Julian wrote:

Just was sent this:

"A plant dubbed the suicide tree kills many more people in Indian
communities
than was previously thought. The warning comes from forensic toxicologists
in India and France who have conducted a review of deaths caused by plant-
derived poisons.
"Cerbera odollam, which grows across India and south-east Asia, is used by
more people to commit suicide than any other plant, the toxicologists say.
But they also warn that doctors, pathologists and coroners are failing to
detect how often it is used to murder people.
"A team led by Yvan Gaillard of the Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology in
La Voulte-sur-Rhône, France, documented more than 500 cases of fatal
Cerbera poisoning between 1989 and 1999 in the south-west Indian state
of Kerala alone. Half of Kerala's plant poisoning deaths, and one in 10 of
all fatal poisonings, are put down to Cerbera.
"But the true number of deaths due to Cerbera poisoning in Kerala could be
twice that, the team estimates, as poisonings are difficult to identify by
conventional means."

Are there any known provings?

JW
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