New-York tribune., 1903-02-01

long nd sharp. and so poisoned that they were
certain death, if ever they drew blood, so that
Few O. none OF those that were wounded ever
recovered
Dr.. W J MCGEE, United States Commissioner
Of the newly established commission for the
promotion OF archaologic and ethnologic re
search n the three Americas, recently addressed
the Folk Lore Society in this city, advancing the
opinion that the poison OF the Indians was large
u sta a--onistic. That is to say, the poison
vas often applied the bow instead of the
ARROWS or certain spells were uttered or
cast upon the weapons which it was thought
would cause the death Of those the arrow
struck IN speaking OF this poisoning, Dr. Nc
Gee said:
A poisoned arrow usually begins TO operate
within three days after the wound is given, and
performs its effect in seven days afterward; IN
which time the patient raves, eats and gnaWs
his Own flesh beats his head against the wall
and so dies The Spaniards, desirous to know
remedy OF antidote against this poison, per
suaded the Indians both by promises and threats
10 give them the receipt Of i, but could not pre-
val until such time they wounded one OF
those they had taken and then giving him lib
cry 10 go abroad TO seek his remedy, they OBJ
served that he gathered two sorts of herbs
which he stamped and pounded several times
and drank the juice Of one of them, and the
other he injected into his wound: but first he
opened The wound and drew out the barbs Of the
arrow which are very fine and thin, and are left
II the flesh after the shaft is taken out; for
unless the wound be first cleared thereof, the
herb can have 10 effect; and in this manner the
Indian cured himself Having made this dis
cCvery. the S1aniards used the same antidote
with varying results, as they had not the art to
clear the wound
Poisoned arrows are Of two kinds, made
either OF palm wood or Of slender reeds that
grow by -he sides Of the rivers, and, instead of
iron At the points, they are finished with fish
scales OF pieces Of flint anoirted with black
hitvrnen beastIy mixture moistened with
snakes blood. These ingredients are placed
over z fire IN an open field and boiled with great
trouble and diligence III il is brought TO per-
lection. So injurious was the vapor that the
person looking 10 il sometimes died from the
effects
Another poisonous composition was made Of
fourteen Ingredients and another of twenty
four; one that killed in three days. another in
fve and another later, while sometimes it was
found that the wounded person lived many
days as The poison had been made.
The natives Of Gaudeloupe had what they
called arrow plant The leaves of this plant
We're as long a palm, three inches wide,
bright green. and polished as smooth as satin.
They bear little flowers like Lizeron, but with
divided petals, violet colored on the outside and
white inside. shut up during the day and open
a. night The savages value this plant highly,
and not without reason, because each days ex-
peT7ence proved the rare and estimable qualities
1t possessed. Its roots, pounded and applied to
srrow wounds poisoned with mencinille, en-
Grelv DESTROYED he venom
The n.encinille tree Of the West Indies bears
frUlt that -esembles the little Paradise apples,
slthouga they are the apples Of the internal
regions and q death, as dangerous 10 the body
OF those who eat II as was Adams apple to the
soul. its appearance invites one to touch ii and
TO eat IT, but only 20 touch il raises blisters and
whelks 10 the hand, while to eat ii is 10 swallow
death
The Caribs make OF this tree to poison
Their arrows. They make an opening IN the