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"greyish face, the usual expression of an infant with acute vomiting. When
"saw the child she was vomiting at fairly frequent intervals, apparently without
"pain, watery bile-tinged fluid. There was no diarrhoea. After treatment she
"rapidly recovered. The other children did not appear again at the surgery,
"though told to do so, whence I infer that they rapidly improved."
The Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell states that the symptoms in
those attacked by illness in his district varied from severe pains in the
stomach, diarrhoea, sickness and headache to a slight amount of indisposition.
As there appears to have been some doubt as to the species of nut in
question, it may be interesting to quote from the following report kindly sent
by the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to whom specimens had
been submitted:—
"The seeds received for identification are those of a species of Aleurites, probably
"Aleurites Fordii, a native of China. The seeds of Aleurites Fordii are believed
"to be the chief source of Chinese Wood Oil, and to possess poisonous properties.
"The tree is closely allied to the Aleurites Triloba, a native of Malay and Polynesia,
"the seeds of which are known as 'Indian Walnut' or 'Candle Nut,' and said to
"contain 50 per cent, of oil used as food and for burning.
"Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
"August 6th, 1907."
A sample was also sent to your Public Analyst for chemical examination,
who reported thereon as follows:—
"These nuts yield an oil agreeing in properties with Chinese Wood Oil obtained
"from Aleurites Candata. It has the reputation of possessing poisonous properties.
"17 th September, 1907."
In No. 4, 1906, of the "Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information," published
by the authorities at Kew Gardens, it is stated:—
"With regard to the use of T'ung Oil in Europe and America, it is known that
"it is employed to a considerable extent in one or two industries, and is also being
"experimented with in others, but much secrecy is maintained with regard to the
"matter. So far as can be gathered, it is employed in linoleum factories, as a
"substitute for linseed in some industries, and is also believed to form the basis of
"a varnish to compete with that produced from copal. It may be noted that this
"oil has poisonous properties ; the refuse cake is employed as manure in China."
The nuts of Aleurites Fordii have also been the subject of enquiry by the
authorities of the Imperial Institute. The following notes are extracted from
the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, Vol. v., No. 2, 1907:—
"Examination of the oil.—On extraction with light petroleum, the kernels were
"found to contain 58.3 per cent, of oil, which is equivalent to a yield of 36.4 per
"cent, from the entire nuts.
"The oil was light in colour, and, on exposure to air in a thin layer, dried in a
"day at the ordinary temperature, giving a varnish-like residue. On heating in a
" water oven at 100 deg. C. the oil dried and formed a resin-like solid.