, 1884-02-03
THE DEADLY ToLoAoHI
A Mexican Weed whose Poison FRO
duces Hopeless Insanity.
IGOR. Springfield Ropublicau.

lCor. Springfield Republican.
Speaking Of paupers recalls a sad case, that
Of an old man--known only as Antonio
who long haunted the house tina for several
months was my home in Saltillo. Though
Filthy beyond description. barefooted, bare
headed, and clad in scanty rags that left his
breast and limbs uncovered, he had a refined,
even courtly manner. all the grace of polite
ness which is the heritage of his race, aud a
happy face which showed occasional dreams
OF Intelligence. He was a harm
less l~unatic, his mania being to
collect bits Of rags and paper, and hoard
ing them like 50 many diamonds in a great
bundle. which he always carried in his armA-
Occasionally we found this singular msndi-
cant writing in q ans, beautiful hand, or
humming sketches OF Spanish and italian
operas, and when suddenly aroused from
slumber he imagined himself in far-away
places, developing an intimate knowledge OF
distant cities which could only have come
from actual residence. His faithful dog
what beggar was ever without onel-with
moro OF reasoning power than his master,
never left his side for a moment, sleeping
In his arms upon the precious bundle at
night, guarding him with vicious snaps and
sIfarls by day. When the sun shone both
were happy, and spent the long days in the
sunny court among the flowers which the old
4hu lCFtut anu WeTb Leu DJ the Elnuleurted
folk of tho case. One chilly morning, after a
long, old rain, Antonio failed to make his
appearance at the usual breakfast hour.
Later in the day the children discovered him
his poor, gray head thrown backward
among the flowers, the pitiful bundle still
ciaspsd In his stiffened arms-stono dead.
Soon afterward, somebody going to one of
the remote cities of which the strange old
wanderer had often babbled, took the trouble
10 trace his history. He was of good family
his surname being ono well known in the
republc-college-bred, and with plenty of
money In his youth. Years ago some enemy
Ut was never discovered who, or. for what
causej gave him some of the poison toloachi,
the effect Of which is worse than death, entire
and incurable loss Of reason This poisonous
weed grows everywhere In Mexico. but more
thriftly in the tropical region Of the terra
c~alienta- 1t Is a Misunderstanding plant, pre-
cisely like the milk-weed of the north and all
too dangerously convenient in a land where
suspicion rules and jealousy amounts to
Madness A few drops of the t~asteless
white juice Of toloachi, mixed with milk or
other food, does its diabolical work with In
exorable certainty and cannot be detected
except in its effects 1t does not kill, but
acts Immediately upon the brain, producing
at first violent madness aud then hopeless
idiocy. l. Is whispered that poor Carlotta
had hardly landed at Vera Cruz on her soi-
rowful mission to this country, before som0
OF it was administered to her, and her de-
plorable fate Is cited as one among many
similar instancea OF all tho dangers In
Mexico this is one OF the most appalling.
Any political enemy, jealous rival, or Of
Tended servant, may thus revenge himself in
q more fiendish manner thin with the stiletto
and without fear OF detection.