Medical Jurisprudence And Toxicology

DATURA FASTUOSA

677

deaths have occasionally occurred from excessive quantities. A case6 is
recorded, in which one Musammat Maiki of District Kheri administered to
Musammat Chitana, her mother-in-law, datura poison in her food. When
Musammat Chitana lost her senses after taking the food the accused
(Musammat Maiki) killed her by throttling her neck with her foot. During
the month of April 1951, the police of Ahmedabad detected several cases of
robberies in which the victims were lured away from the railway station
and riverside with offers of free tea and eatables mixed with datura seeds.
The victims, who were usually strangers to the city, readily accepted such
kind offers, and when they became unconscious after some time, they were
relieved of their cash and valuables.

Fig, 185.—Mxcrophotograph of Section o£ Capsicum Seed showing embryo.

The seeds are sometimes given to children with a view to kidnapping
them when they become unconscious or delirious. , *

The seeds are given whole or more often crushed, mixed with rice, dal
(pulse), sweets, chapatis or vegetables, and sometimes with tea, coffee or
liquor.

The seeds as well as the leaves are also mixed with tobacco or ganja and
smoked in a chilum (pipe) for the same purpose, A decoction of the seeds
is at times added to liquor or toddy with a view to enhancing its intoxicating
property.

Cases of suicidal poisoning by datura are rare. In his annual report for
the year 1907, Rai Bahadur Chooni Lai Bose, Chemical Examiner of Bengal,
mentions the case of a Hindu female, who committed suicide by taking
datura seeds. In his annual report for the year 1928, the Chemical Examiner
of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh reports a case from Jaunpur
where a young man, 20 years old, committed suicide by taking datura and
opium.

Accidental cases of poisoning occur among children and even adults
from eating raw datura fruits mistaking them as edible fniits or from eating

6, Leader, Sep. 13, 1930.