1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Picrotoxin

PICROTOXIN, a neutral principle obtained from the Cocculus indicus, which is the fruit of the Anamirta paniculata. It is used in medicine externally as an antiparasite. Internally it has been successfully used to check the night sweats of phthisis. In large doses it is a powerful poison, causing unconsciousness, delirium, convulsions, gastro-enteritis and stimulation of the respiratory centre followed by paralysis, from which death sometimes results. Formerly low class publicans sometimes added Cocculus indicus berries to beer to increase the intoxicating effects. Its chemical formula is C₁₅H₁₆O₆•H₂O.