Report of the Sudan Medical Service.

  • Sudan. Medical Service.
Date:
[1947]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Sudan Medical Service. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    66/84 (page 60)
    There seems little doubt that the toxic properties of Courbonia virgata are well known to the natives of the regions in which it occurs (for example, it is re¬ ported as being used for poisoning hyenas), and it seems quite probable that the discovery of its toxic nature reveals the secret of one of the mysterious poisons of the Southern Sudan. As Courbonia virgata and closely related species occur in other parts of tropical Africa its recognition as a quite highly toxic plant is likely to have wide significance. In addition to a tetramethylammonium (tetramine) salt, Courbonia virgata has been shown also to contain both dimethylamine and trimethylamine in small quantities, while a fourth base, almost certainly another quaternary base, is also present . This last has not yet been identified. Like dimethylamine and trimethy¬ lamine it forms globules, which show no tendency to crystallise, with iodine in potassium iodide. These bases are readily separable from tetramine iodide on account of their ready solubility in ethyl alcohol. It has been shown that tetram¬ ine occurs in all parts of the plant, to the extent of 0.7-0.9 per cent in the roots, leaves and stems (air dry) and 0.15 per cent in the seeds. Full chemical analysis of the root and seeds have been carried out. The root is free from starch but contains a high proportion of sucrose and considerable araban. On the other hand the seeds are free from sucrose and reducing sugars but contain 65 per cent of starch. Full details of these analytical results will shortly be submitted for publication. Stillbamidine. Further information regarding the instability of this drug in solution has been obtained and submitted for publication. Hydrolysis of the amidine groups has been shown to be controlled mainly by the PH of the solution and by temperature. Under slightly acid conditions, at a low temperature and with rigid exclusion of light a solution of stilbadimine remains virtually unchanged for very long periods. Examination of the urine of former kala-azar patients treated with stilbamid- ine shows that even 2-3 years after termination of the course of treatment the drug is still being excreted in small but detectable concentrations. This supports the view that extensive storage in the body occurs and that long periods are required for complete elimination of the stored material. This storage phenomenon is pro¬ bably closely bound up with the delayed neuropathic symptoms which so frequent¬ ly follow a course of administration of the compound. Sudan Seed Oils. The survey of Sudan Seed oils has been extended by the examination of six new oils, two of which —Celtis and Trema species of the family Ulmacea—appear to contain the vitamin A precursor. In addition, the examination of sesame seeds at various stages of pre-ripeness has shown that premature harvesting would lead to significant losses of yield though the composition of the seeds varies little. Lead in the Coatings of Household Utensils A satisfactory method has been found for the determination of lead in the coating material of household utensils, which is not permitted to exceed 1 per cent.