Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-22
NO. 81.
Deadly weapons.

Fleet Surgeon A. B. Messer, NJ. D.,
has been continuing his inquiry into
the reputed poisonous nature of the
arrows Of the South Sea Islanders.
There now remains little doubt that in
of the islands between Erromanga New
Hebrides) and the Santa Cruz group,
the natives prepare and smear upon the
arrows substances from various plants
which they believe TO be poisons. DIR.
Messer gives a description of them. A
plant named toto seems most in favor;
it belongs to the Euphorbium family
and has milky sap, which is irritating
and painfal when applied to the eyes
or lips or TO sore. But from all ac-
counts obtained from missionaries and
others ne poisoning, strictly speaking.
has ever been observed as the effect of
wounds by arrows supposed TO be thus
poisoned, tetanus being the only result
rec o1ded, and not being of such char
acter or following so often as TO en-
title it to be considered directly due TO
the substances smeared on the arrows.
Tetanus is of very frequent occurrence
in the South Pacific Islands, and wh,n
il follows after wounds or Injuries it is
almost always fatal. This may natur
ally be attributed by a superstiti0us
people TO the power of the enemy or his
weapon. The 'nana" or supernatural
power which the Polynesian races
believe to exist in certain persons or
things is a most potent influence.
Some man or family may easily become
famous as having the most deadly
arrows, and would, of course, strive TO
make them as irritant and powerful as
possible, with a view to increase the
fears of the wounded.
This explains how the arrows of one
island may become more deadly than
others, for if a native believes that he
is shot by an arrow, for instance, from
MaiwO or Aurora Island, which is said
to produce the most deadly arrows In
hat district, he will at once expect
tetanus, and give up hope; and if it
occurs and proves fatal, as it almost
certain TO do, the superstition will in
crease. We saw how painful and de-
structive was the mental influence in
the case of those wounded ON board
the Pearl. In this superstition may
be found an explanation of the trouble
taken TO smear arrows with substances
the poisonous properties of which are
at all events doubtful. DIR. Messer gives
an account in detail of fifteen expert
ments he has been making upon three
dogs and two rabbits, with toto, and
another plant of great repute, and with
four different kinds of arrows zone from
Maiwo), supposed TO be poisoned. No
sign of poisoning followed. One of the
dogs while under observation broke his
chain and ran loose for two hours
among some grass and scrub, where it
was known that snakes and scorpions
abOunded and on the next day symp-
toms Ofinjury by a sting were observed;
but the dog showed no sign of tetanus
and quite recovered.
One of the rabbits inOeulated with
teto, inserted under the skin, was
found On the third day unable to stand,
and on being touched was thrown into
spasms somewhat resembling tetanus,
but more like the effect of an injury to
the spinal cord, and in few hours the
animal died. Unfortunately, but a
slight examination of the body was
made; but the lid of the box in which
this rabbit was confined, being broken,
was frequently falling down upon the
animal, aud might thus have injured
its spine, and so caused its death. DIR.
Messer at once inserted this supposed
poison under the skin of another rabbit
and two dogs, and increased the guam
tity, but the wounds simply suppurated
slightly, and the animals remained in
perfect health.