Art. XLII.—On Certain Properties of the Tutu Plant (Coriaria ruscifolia).* See former paper on same subject, by Mr. Skey. (Trans. N. Z. Inst., Vol. ii., p. 153.) By H. G. Hughes, M.P.S., Hokitika. [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, November 12, 1870.] During the past year I have devoted my leisure to the investigation of the properties of the Tutu plant, and communicated my results from time to time to Dr. Hector and Mr. Skey, who kindly assisted me with their criticisms. The following paper embodies a brief account of my experiments, which circumstances have unfortunately prevented my completing as I wished to have done. About three-quarters of a pound of the fresh ground shoots were treated with successive quantities of distilled water slightly acidulated. After filtering and adding the acetate of lead in excess, it was submitted to the action of sulphuretted hydrogen, again filtered, and evaporated to the consistency of an extract. This extract was well washed with successive quantities of alcohol, filtered, evaporated, and ammonia added, when a precipitate resembling Kermes mineral was separated (resinous matter). It was still further concentrated, distilled water added, and again filtered from precipitate; evaporation continued, again treated with alcohol, filtered and evaporated to a syrupy consistence. On cooling, a few crystals formed with difficulty. This thick solution possessed very active properties, and a quantity of it, certainly not more than one-twelfth of a grain (I was scarcely aware of having tasted it), in five minutes time produced a most disagreeably irritating sensation in the throat, extending to the stomach, with pain across the region of the stomach, and accompanied by nausea. In a quarter of an hours time, vomiting came on, which continued more or less for two hours. Very unpleasant sensations continued for two hours more, when, after great flushing of the face, with all but intolerable heat, the effects passed away. Of course, not anything was taken to counteract the poison. On the addition of a little ether to the thick solution, a quantity of acicular crystals immediately made their appearance, but became redissolved as the ether slowly volatilized. The whole was afterwards shaken up with ether, the ethereal solution separated. Upon spontaneous evaporation, three or four drops of a fine yellow-coloured fragrant oil was as residue. The fragrancy increased upon the application of a gentle heat. Upon evaporating the thick alcoholic solution, crystals of supposed alkaloid formed. These were redissolved and recrystallized until their solution in alcohol was perfectly colourless. During the final evaporation of an alcoholic solution, an accident occurred, and they were lost, having been burnt. The residue was black and charred (carbonaceous).