The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
PolsoNs FOR ARROWS.
Tue Various Ouesr Ways in Which
 They Were Obtained.

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 rhs Various Queer ways In Which They Were Obtained.
 'The lise of poisoned arrows is un- doubtedly of very ancient origin, y said Dr. w. J. Hoffman. to . Washing ton Star reporter. They are believ- ed to have been employed in Europe in prehistoric times and later on, ac- cording to Aristotle, Strabo and Pliny. the Celts and Gauls envenomed their shafts with the juice of plant of the genus hellebore. The Scythians pre- pared arrow poison by mixing serpent venom with the serum of putrid blood, and other instances are recorded in literature of people about the Black sea and in Asia Minor who practiced similar arts.
 The Ainos of Japan prepare q poison for spreading upon bamboo or metal arrow-points to kill game with, a small portion of flesh about the wound being cut out before the ami nal is cooked and eaten. In Java. Borneo. New Guinea, and other of the East India islands the same practice obtains to a considerable extent The poisoning of arrows prevails exten- sively in Africa. particularly on the west coast, in the Gaboon. among the Somali. and with the Bushmen. By the Bushmen the juice of plant Is used. mixed with the pulp of a venom ous worm
 The best known and most active of poisons is the woorara or urari' of South America It is chiefly used for the tips of darts blown from the blow gun. and the most important ingredi- ent is the juice of the plant from which strychnine Is obtained, to which is added certain other vegetable ele- ments and serpent venom In Gen. tral America poisons are also employ ed on arrows and blow-gun darts The Csribs employ similarly poison made from the sap of a tree called the 'mancenilles.' The antidote was the application to the wound of what we know as 'arrowroot.'
 The Seris of northwestern Mexico prepared poison by putting into the ground cows liver. rattlesnakes, scorpions centipedes and other un- | pleasant things, and beating them with stick. Into the mixtures the arrow points were dipped. The Apaches and neighboring tribes were until recently. in the habit of smear ing upon their arrows a composition said to consist of decomposed deer's liver and rattlesnake venom. In some instances crushed red ants are also re- ported to have been used A micro scopic examination of such coating upon arrows obtained from Apaches in 1871 showed the presence of blood and crystalline substance that was ap- parently rattlesnake venom. The venom of serpents retains its poisonous properties. when dried indefinitely. One instance of poisoning by such an arrow mentioned to me was that of 8 man whose wound was mere scratch on the shoulder blade. but previous to death. which ensued, the flesh of the mans back feil of. exposing the ribs and spine in several places.
 The Shoshone and Bannack In- dians state that the proper way to poison arrows, as formerly practioed by them. is to secure deer and cause it to be bitten by ra,tlesnake im- mediately after which the victim is killed and the meat removed and placed in hole in the ground. When the mass has become putrid the ar row points are dipped into 1t The Clallams of Puget sound used to make arrow points of copper. which were afterward dipped in sea water and permitted to eorrode. I have never met an Indian who would admit the use of poisoned arrows in warfare against man. In nearly all instances when poisons arc prepared by Indians the operation is performed with moro or less ceremony. chanting and in- cantation, for the purpose of invoking evil spirits or demons. In their belief the effects of poison are due wholly to the presence in them of malevolten spirits or demons, which enter tho body of the victim and destroy life.