The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-28
Assulsle Poison-s-The Plant by which
the Emprcss Carlotta became Insane.

I BY telegraphic despatches 1t appears
that General Lesca has been poisoned.
ft is uncertain whether the deed was
Iperpetrated by, some of the insurgents or
by some Spaninrds who feared that
Lesca was using:too much clemency to-
ward the Cubah forces. Cettain it is
That Lesca has been poisoned, and that
bis mind has become sadly injured. The
probability is that he will live, but be-
come Insane. The decootion by which
he has been put in this sad plight, it is
resting widow OF the unfortunate Maxi
milan was thrown from the domain of
reason into the depths of lunacy. To
US, this unfortunate widow has always
appeared like Shakspeare's "Ophelia, :"
who, with darkened mind, strewed flow
ers on the stream.
This poison, which maddens without
bringing death to it's victim, is derived
from an herb which grows in Cuba,
South America, and few places in Afexi-
co. The plant is one of the most won
derful Of natures productions. It re-
sembles the century plant in many of its
features. Like the century plant, it is q
member of the cactus family; still fur
ther. it blooms once in many years, and
at regular intervals The bud is large,
and resembles that of the horse chestnut
in the peculiar gluten surrounding it.
From this the natives derive the poison.
The flower is OF gigantic size, and con-
tains a purple centre, surrounded by
blue and white circles. The perfume is
delicious and deadly, and the natives
shun approach as the sailors of the old
songs of the sirens. To inhale is sweet,
but to remain is death. The sorcerers,
or medicine men, take the buds of this
singular plant, and, first roasting, place
then, in n pot with sweet oil over a fire,
and dance around it with strange cere-
monies. till the oil and the juice of the
herb mingle, when they cease their
strange incantations, and pour the de-
coction, resembling honey, into shallow
plates, from which, after the lapse of n
few days, it is again taken out and kept
in miniature jars. The poison, when
taken in sufficient quantity, first places
the brain in delightful delirium, re-
sembling that produced by fusel oil.
This is succeeded in q few days by an un-
comfortable apathy, in which the patient
is at times extremely rational, then wild
~ insane, and again rational, but greatly
exhilerated. This poison is not destroy
ed by being mingled with in victuals
before being subjected to heat, but its
immediate effects are somewhat deadcn-
ed. They are sure to appear. however,
in the lapse of time. This is is the man
ner in which the poison is generally
administered: When the victim is of no
great influence, and it is improbable that
he can turn cn his poisoncr, the decoc-
tion is administered in glass Of wine or
q cup of cocoa. The poison manifests
itself shortly, and in the course of q week
all the various phases of the delirum ap-
pear. The sad fate of the Empress Car
lotta is known to all; but this description
of the poison, from what it is derived,
and how it acts, may aid in forming q
more correct appreciation of the horrible
troubles to which she is subject Gene
raj Lesca has been poisoned by the same
herb, and is now subject to the same
freak of insanity as the Empress Carlotta
Washington Republican.