Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1880 — The Oleander Poisonous. [ARTICLE]

The Oleander Poisonous.

It is stated that the oleander is a deadly poison, and may frequently prove a treacherous fondling if not carefully watched. It is one of our most beautiful window plants when covered with its large roselike blossoms, but in these blossoms death resides. A case is recorded of a child having eaten a few flowers and being poisoned by the same. The “Annals of toe Peninsular War” state that a number of French soldiers went out foraging near Madrid, and returned laden with toe fruits of their search. One of the number, with a view of securing some wood to make skewers for the meat, cut a quantity of oleander boughs, and having stripped them of the bark, used toe wood in the meat. The result was that out of twelve who ate of the roast seven died, and the rest were dangerously iIL The poisonous principle is so subtle that its exhalations alone are sufficient to cause very serious Alness, and even death, to those who sleep for any time under their influence. It exists equally in every part of the plant, but it is considvcaHy weakened by cultivation.