The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-09
INSECT DISCOVERED WHOSE BITE
INVARIABLY PRODUCES INSANITY
South AmeSs@an Explorers Make Startling Dis
covery and Learn That Mad Mems rawlings
Are Attributable TO Wonderful AMI
mails Dreaded Attack.

as those to be found in any asylum for
the demented There We're those who
had special hobbies. Some We're contn
uaily calm and. pensive. attempting no
violence in any form. Others We're con-
tinually vicious, and still others only
imaginary hunting trips. and hid for
game behind the huts. There was nothing
lacking to complete the regulation insane
ward of genuine asylum. The pre-
fess0r, at first, was inclined to believe
that some root or herb, unknown to
science or even TO these people, had been
found and eaten by these baniShed GRIM
mails as they wandered through the for
ests and mesas, which, perhaps possessed
the power TO drive one insane. He pointed
out. however. that this quite impro-
babe, as the symptoms evidences showed
such Il wide dissim:larity. Any one herb
with such power must naturally affect
all alike, or most nearly so. There was
no trace Of physical deterioration.
We questioned the Interpreters closely.
DO You know of any herb root, any
fruit or flesh, that. if eaten. viii cause
a person 10 become possessed" was
asked.
No, they replied
How do they obtain their food Are
they permitted to carry away weapons
With them?"
No; we take their arrows from them.
They live upon what they can find. They
have no arrows to kill game. They eat
much fruit and sweet cane Sometimes
they are killed by the big aniamls.'
I suppose all Of them finally meet this
end. How do they protect themselves;
where do they sleep at nights?"
Iney gather the thorny bush Ghe
pricllly pear ana lie underneath NO
animal will come there then
They must then. go to the mountain
plateau, for no thorny bushes grow down
here
Yes, they all go there to be safe"
LIKE BULLET HOLES.
We determined to visit the p!ateaus
ourselves and push our investigation in
TINS iiae. for t was apparent that nothing
colHd be deduced from the natives of any
value. Accordingly, the following morn
ing saw us upon our way, each intentiy
studying the ground for new plant life,
or anything, in fact. that might give
some clue to this mystery In a few
minutes we approached the .spisi, or
huryng-ground of the Batchuas The
B&ichuas make no attempt at interring
their dead The remains are carried to a
common ground. and there deposited upon
heap, their bones soon to be whitened
by the vultures and animals that might
be attracted to the spot. Curiosity led
US c.oSe 10 the pace. and we viewed the
scene with horror. However, here the
iirst clue TO the mystery Of the insanity
epidemic was secured
Among the pile of whitening bones we
nossd several skulls with what we at
first supposed IL be bullet holes through
them. Upon closer examination we were
astounded 10 find that these could not
possibly have been made by bullets, for,
in the first place. they We're entirely too
small an aperture and, second, were
never accompanied with a fracture of
any nature, which must certainly ensue
in tlla majority of Instances where a bui-
lei enters the slaill
Those holes Were made by no vearon
They could have been made by nothing
more Ihan an insect Ii is possible and
more than probable that we are upon the
verge Of a discovery of some note Shou d
t be true that an insect exists with the
power and tendency to bore through a
mans skull. then we certainly must have
n closer view of that fellow. and get
more light upon the subject, for here is
socmthsng that viii star:ie science. You
may judge for yourself what a terrible
thing such an insect would be-
As none but those Of the criminal class
are affected, it stands to reason .hat
we must look for the insect here in the
mesa. You will most likely find it where
;hey sleep. for there tl.sy would ha most
open TO attack. Let me see; what dif
they say about these fellows surrounding
themselves with the prickly pear? An,
that is it. We will 20 higher up to
the plateau where the pear grows, and