The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-04-29

San Francisco Bulletin.

San Francisco Bullefin-
The Bntieti1 recently copied from the
Gilroy Advocate an account of man in
that neigaborhood who was n the habit Of
sobsring himself of after drinking bout
by taking enormous quantities of the dead
" drug, strychnine. Eastern exchanges,
copying the article, discredited the story,
whereupon the Adrocdfe of tne 9th instant
furnishes the following additional facts:
The individual who PERFORMS the wonder
full feet Of eating with impu,,ity such large
portions of this deadly drug is an occasion
ii visitor to this city, and is well known By
a number of our citizens, to whom BIZ. De.
culiarity has been known Cor years. lie is
an eccentric genius, and does not make his
strychnine eating public matter, but ra.h-
er seeks to hide it. By chance the subject
has got into print, and it being so e1traor
dinary an occurrence, we took it upon our
selves to investigate it. and now know posi-
lively whereof We speak. Morphine ARISEN.
ME, and other poisonous drugs, it is we'll
known, are taken in large and small doses,
for various purposes, but that strychnine
should also become palatable article, and,
in such large doses, may we'll excite the
credulhy Of all, and it is only in the inter
est of science that We now write, hoping that
the subject viii be investigated by the medi
cal fraternity. This person, who is known
by the sobriquet of "Jack." is man of in
temperate habits, and has periodical srrees,
which last fron one to three weeks, during
which time be keeps completely saturated
with whisky. If occasion requires that he
should be sober at certain time, or if
perchance he feels the Shiny folds Of snakes
coiling in his boots, he Immediately pro-
cures bottle of strychnine, and eats from
ten to twenty grains. IF the desired effect
is not produced, say within an hour, the
dose is repeated. Unless his spree has
been protracted, one dose usually straight
ems him up, and no matter how drunk he is
when be takes it, within three hours every
trace of his debauch has left him, and the
closest observer, could not discover the
slightest indication of recent dissipation.
Instead OF hectic flush or dull, heavy look,
his eyes are clear and bright, and bis skin
presents its natural appearance. This sin
gu!ar being came to this city last Saturday
and remained until Monday, during which
time he went through his little performance,
bringing the subject freshly to our mind
hence this article. He had intended to de-
part on Sunday, but, haying imbibed rather
freely, missed the train. On Monday
morning he was very drunk, and, visiting
DR.. Morey's drug store, called for bottle
of strychnine, remarkins that be must leave
on the noon train. He Immediately
emptied ABORTION of the contents of the
bottle into his mouth and went of. When
The time for departure came he was as So
Der as a judge. The only information tina
can be derived from him as TO this habit j.
that be has followed it since 1856, but a,
to bow he acquired it cannot be learned
DR.. Ii. c. Morey has known him since 1861
and has frequently known him to eat bot
tie of strychnire within twenty four hours
When We consider that from an eight to a
quarter of grain of this poison is usually
sufficient to make corpse of the most 70
bust person, We do not wonder that the
at time with no deleterious effect should
be incredulously received. However, facts
herein stated can be substantiated by in
controvartible evidence, and no matter how
absurd or singular they may appear, mus,
be accepted as facts gQnery-Is strych
nine an antidote for the poisonous effect.
OF alcohol and vice versa?