The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-12
a STRANGE POISON.
The Plant by which the Emprcss Car.
1Otto Became Insane-GeMeral lesca
also Poisoned

By te'egraphic dispatches it appears that
General Lesca has been poisoned. 1t is un-
certain whether the deed was perpetrated by
some one OF tho INSURGENTS or by some Span.
lard who feared that lesca was uaing too much
clemency toward the Cnban forces. Certain
1t is chat Lesca has been poisoned, and that
bic mind has become sadly Injured. The pros
liability is that he will live, but become insane
The decoctfon by which he has been thrown
in this sad plight, it IS certain. was the same
by which the interesting widow of the unfor-
tunate Maxinilian was thrown from the do
main Of reason into the depths Of lunacy. To
US this unfortunate widow has always appear
ed like 6hakespeare's Qphelia. who. With dark
ened mind. strewed flowers on the stream.
This poison, which mad dens without bring
herb which grows in Cubs, South America and
Few places in Mexico. The plant is one Of
the most wonder rful OF natures productions.
i resembles the century plant in many of it's
ber of the cactus family; still further, it blooms
once IN many years and at regular intervals.
The bud Is large, and resembles that OF the
ing it. From this henatavss derive the poison.
The dower is OK gigantic size, and contains
purple centre. surrounded by blue aud white
circles. The perfume is delicious. but deedly
OF the old songs OF the sirens. To lnhsle is
sweet, but to remain ia death. The sorcerers
or medicine mon. take the buds Of this singu-
lar plant, and first roasting, place them in q
pot with sweet oil over q fire, and dance around
with strange ceremonies till the oil and iuice
OF the herb llniDRIe, when they csase their
strange incantations aud pour the decoction
then resembling honey, into shallow plates,
from which. after the lapse OF few days. it is
again taken and kept in miniature jars.
The pois n, when taken IN suf3clent Quanti-
ty. first places the brain in delightful deli.
Iium, resembling that produced by fusei oil;
this is succeeded, ina few days, by an uncon-
trol'able apathy. which at last culminates in
insanity. in which the patient is aE times
strangely rational. then wildly insane. and
aaain rational, but greatly exhilarate ed . This
poison is not DESTROYED hY being mingled in
victuats before beng subjocteu to Meav; DGs
lts immediate effects are somewhat deaden-
ed. They are sure to- appear, however, in
the lapse or time. This Is the manner in
which tho poison is generally administered.
When the victim is OF no great influence.
and 1t is improbable that he can turn upon
his poisoner, the decoctiOn is administered in
glass of WINE or o cup OF cocoa. The poison
manifesto itself ehortly, and in the course OF d
week all the various phases OF the delirium
appear The sad tate OF the Empress Carlotta
Is known to all. but this description OF the poi
son from what 1t ls derived. and bow it. acts
may add In forming 8 more correct apprecia-
tiOn of the horrible troubles to which she is
subject General Lesca has been poisoned by
the same herb. and Is now subject to the Same
freaks Of insanity as the Empress Uarlotta.