Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-26

GYPSIES-Among other secrets of the gypsy
race is the art of preparing what they term the
''lrei," or "dri, most deadly and destruc-
tive agent, and for which medical science knows
no autidote. Analysis detects no obnoxious
properties whatever, and the most careful ex-
animation, microscoplcal or otherwise, shows 1t
simply to consist of apparently harmless vege-
brown powder, obtained tiom species of fun
gus forming the nearest connecting link be-
tween the animal and vegetable kingdoms,
the powder consisting of an infnity of sporules
These fungoid sporules possess the peculiar
property of being further developed only:by
intimate contact with living animal matter las
when swallowed, &C., they then throw out
innumerable greenish-yellow hbres about twelve
or eighteen inches 10 length. When the
''drei'' is administered, usually in some
warm drinks, these sporules are swallow
ed, attach themselves to the mucous mem-
brane, germinate, throw out millions OF these
silky fbres, which grow with awful rapidity,
first producing symptoms OF hectic fever then
cough eventually accompanied by incessant
splitting Of blood, till death finally inevitably
supervenes, usually in fortnight or three
weeks time.
A case of this description occurred in Italy 10
1860. Although the patient was attended by
cases Of slow poisoning, no suspicion OF foul
play were entertained till the day after the de-
cease, when an autopsy being held, revealed
the cause of DEATH The 6bres, the growth Of
which had ceased with the cessation Of animal
life and heat that had supported them, were
partially decomposed; had another day or two
elapsed, no trace would have been left of the
foul deed. If the analysis Of the mixture in
question reveal no deete,ious drug, let dog
or other animal be dosed with "three drops
10 some warm vehicle. The result would show
whether the brown powder is or is not the
world-tamous and destructive ''drei.
ADVENTURES WITH A PoT OF PAINT.-Old
little bill to pay. lie sent man down town
for pot of paiut and ladder. The man got
the paint and then went to lumber yard after
ladder. Then he tied the paint pot on the
end of the ladder hnd put the ladder on his
shoulder. This was very smart arrangement
and the man himself admired it very much:
lie started for home this way, and didn't lind
any trouble in getting along the first block,
because people had an impression that lpug
ladder with pot of yellow paint dangng on
the end of it wasn't exactly the thing to ttihe
with, so they balanced along on the curbstone
or rubbed up against the buildings Pretty
soon the man saw somebody In a store he knew
aud he turned around to speake to him, and
drove one end of the ladder into millinery case
and Knocked the crown out of an eighteen dol
lar bonnet Then he backed off in alright,
and knocked down two sewing machine agents
with the other end Then he started to turn
around, and an old gentleman, who was hes,
peratey endeavoriug to pull his wife out of
danger saw the peril, and shouted out ! Ill,
tb, of Hhp a
against an awning post tipped to one side, and
the entire contents weot over the aged couple.
This so startled the man that he whirled DOM
plcteIy around, smashing in au entire store
front, frightening milk mans team, and
knocking over some thirteen persons who we're
actively lodging about to get out Of the way.
Then he dropped the ladder and fed into the
country, shouting murder and "6reY at
every jump. A regular orda,ned painter is
now engaged on Mr.. Watsous house, Da@-
Juuy Netcs.