The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-20
From the Philadelphia Times.

York, Pa, Feb. 13.--Ihe physicians are
greatly perplexed over the most rematka
bic cases Of vegetable poison which have
resulted Ii the death Of two boys, and hardly
know now 10 make a diagnosis of tho cases
sufficiently clear to ascertain what poison
Gus matter had been taken into the stomach.
Henry w. Arnold, sged 10 years, end Isaac
Simmons, aged Is, together with number
Of companions of their own age spent yes
terday morning together on the banks of the
creek, catching drittwool end pushing Of
the les that R1atad down and caught on the
pier Of bridge. On one piece Of ice Wss a
slender root, described as being encssed with
a heavy bark shell and the heart tonder and
juicy This root the boys misIooS for what
in their verngcular is known - ''sWeet
America" Ind root they describe ms being
very pslatable and entirely harmless THIS
root came floating down upon piece of ice
and attracting the attention of young Ar
mold and Simmons, they Doth took it up and
alto heartily of it.
In about an hour after they had partaken
Of it young Arnold went home, appearing
all right and hearty. Young Simmons,
however, remained, and shortly after the
departure of bis companion he was noticed
by the other boys to be acting in ra Their
peculiar mSnner. He ran over the road
apparently as if losing control of his limbs,
and Hually his moss began to bleed, but
stopped suddenly, with the loss oS but drop
or two of blood. Several of the other boys,
observing his peculiar actions, called Justify
to hlm anumber of times but receiving no
response approached him, found no wss
barely able TO stand unsupported and Wss
vomiting violently They started to drag
him home, and on his wSy de gave some
unaccountSble demonstrations, such as lick
ing the palms Of hia bands, and took from
his pocket wooden puleeWarmer and ba-
gan chewing II in rsvenous manner. He
was then seized by a violent convulsion,
which lasted some minutes, which was fo-
lowed by Others ri short intervals. His face
grew deep red, and discharge ressm.
bling white, frothy substance, tinctured by
a delicate red, came from his mouth. His
body was greatly contracted and he seemed
TO be suffering keenly, although apparently
unconscious, as he could neither see nor
hear aud every effort 10 speak died with a
gurgling sound in his throat 1t was inn
possible 10 administer Any remedies Ss the
violent retchisgs and constant yomitings
refused to allow anything TO reach the
stomach. Finally the spasms became con-
slant, and the boy died about four hours sf-
ter, seemingly undergoing the most severe
agony.
Young Arnold, who returned home i'm
medistely after partaking Of the fatal dose,
was likewise attacked and seized with con-
stant retchings and vomiting. Convulsioni
also followed in rapid succession. He died
in half an hour after Simmons, with whom
no had shared the unknown root. Frank
Frey, another companion, was given piece
of the same fatal vegetable, but detecting
in II a taste with semblance of parsnip, he
was sfrsid il WAS poison, and after chewing
piece spit it out and threw the remaining
portion in the creek. He also informed his
companions Of his fears, but they thought
his concern groundless and paid no heed to
his caution. Young Frey, although getting
none of il in his stomach, was likewise al
lacked with vomiting, emitting some white
blood, tinged with oolored substance. He is,
however, out of danger, but terribly fright.
eDed at the narrow escape he made in
sharing the same fate MS hi, young COM
paDions. The representative physicians of
the town are making a post-mortem exami-
nation, but it will doubtless take several
days 10 properly determine the nature of the
root which caused tho death Of these young
men, as tho illness and nature of their death
was Of such rapid and violent form that
the possibility Of it being Wild parsnip root
is not seriously entertained. Both boys were
sturdy, hardy lads and left their homes in
perfect health & short time before their
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