READERS’ WORDS

In response to ‘Bird flu over the cuckoo’s nest’ (April 9), the root of the poison “curare” has nothing to do with the Latin word for cure but is a corruption of ourari, woorari or wurari by various European explorers.

The indigenous South Americans used an extract from a plant root (Strychnos toxifera) as an arrow-tip poison. The English adventurer Walter Raleigh described its effect on animals as causing “a remarkably placid death” (it was anything but). He brought some back to England where it remained a curiosity until the mid-19th century when scientists established that it killed by paralysing voluntary muscles.

Eventually (in 1943), curare found its way into anaesthetic practice as a means of relaxing muscles to improve surgical access to body cavities. A whole new generation of medicines was developed from this plant alkaloid that is now used every day in routine anaesthesia.

So ourari has found its way back to being at least part of a cure.

Incidentally, the word “toxic” is derived from the Greek toxikos, pertaining to arrows or archery, from the practice of putting poisons on arrow tips. — E-mail your observations on words and language to degroots@sundaytimes.co.za On Twitter @deGrootS1