The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-11-11
CALCHAX.
In Agreeable Drag Which Causes the APP
pearance of Death.

Do you see that pale, emnciated young
man leaning in half-dazed condition
against the lamp-post over there ?" said "a
prominent physician to reporter, in an
swer to the query, Anything new ?"
Why, yes he seems to be recovering
from prolonged spree. Is he much ad-
dicted TO it ?"
Nothing of the kind. l doubt if he ever
touched drop in his life. His father was
a preacher, and he started on the road as
temperance adyocnte. He's a caichax root
eater"
"A what ?"
Why, an eater of the root of the cal.
chax, small shrub that grows ON the table
lands of Mexico and is found nowhere else.
It is species of opium, and almost I'M
known, at least to the medical profession,
until short time ago. 1t is q deadly poi
son, and prolonged indulgence is certain
termination. The effects are something like
that of an opiate, except that it is by far
more powerful, half grain being sufficient
to cast one into a sleep that bears the clos
est resemblance to death. A palor spreads
over the features, and the heart beats al
most imperceptibly. The limbs grow stiff
and cold, and the whole body assumes the
appearance of n corpse. About three weeks
ngo this young man returned home from
the city of Mexico, and a few hours after
his return l was summoned hastily to the
house, and found him apparently corpse.
After several hours of hard work succeed
ed in arousing him, although it was fully
week before he entirely recovered. He con-
fessed to me his misfortune, and, as l had
never heard of the habit or the opiate be-
fore, he gave me short history.
:" It seems that about six months ago the
young man, who was at the time travelling
for n St. Louis house, found himself wan-
iering down the Via del Reda, narrow
street in the outskirts of the City of Mexico,
Md amid perfect nest of calchax dens.
Curiosity prompted him to enter and par.
take of the dainty white morsels which
pretty senorita was serving to the inmates.
Numerous unconscious specimens of hui
manity were lying in heaps around the
floor, and the young man at first thought
be had wandered into morgue. Still, his
curiosity getting the best of him, he par
took rather freely of the drug, aud gradual
ly lost consciousness He describes his
sensations, while under the influence, as
most pleasant. Visions of everything beau
siful fitted before him, until lie could re-
member nothing.
How long he remained in that state he
could not tell, but when he awoke he found
himself in q dungeon with host of half
conscious mortals. The den. he subse
quently learned, had been raided by the
Mexican police and the occupants hurried
off 10 Jail. Through the endeavors of the
American Minister he succeeded in obtain
ing his release, and left the city with the
firm resolve to never again test the deadly
drug. But the habit had gained hold upon
hir., and he remained among the low dives
Of the capital for several months. At last,
ike the prodigal son, getting out of funds,
be started home with small amount of the
poison upon his person. Knowing that to
deprive him entirely of the drug might
meet with serious consequences, 1 have
reduced his allowance day by day, until I
have almost succeeded In effecting his cure.
As the drug cannot be procured in the
Enited States, he will soon be compelled to
do without it."-Louisoiile Times