Health and MedicineFirst Aid and Poisons |
What is the poison on arrows used by South American Indians to kill prey and enemies? |
The botanical poison used by the Aucas and similar tribes in the South American jungles is curare. It is a sticky, black mixture with the appearance of licorice and is processed from either of two different vines. One is a liana (Chondodendron tomentosum); the other is a massive, tree-like vine (Strychonos quianensis).