POISON-PROOF.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12429, 19 February 1901, Page 6

POISON-PROOF.

An American .who is at present in Berlin, a Captain Vetrio, appears to possess a constitution and .digestive powers of such; a curious nature, a,s'to be able, to consume with apparent 'avidity as much poison as he likes without' suffering any inconvenience or harm, whatever. Lately he gave an exhibiton of his powers before a select audience. There were present only Government officials and doctors. The show took the form of a dinner, and the dishes set before Captain Yetrio consisted of a plate of verdigris, a quantity of ultramarine, and a mixture of sulphur and borax. The drinks consisted of a solution of strychnine, a bottle of patent rat-killer, made of pulverised glass, arsenic and atrophine. Dessert was also provided in the shape of a large piece of white sulphur. The American poison-eater found out his capabilities in this direction quite ' by chance. Some years ago he was living in a French pension, where some poison had got into the food, and ho was the only one not affected thereby. Being a smart man, he determined to make capital out of his 1 discovery, and proceeded to train himself to such a pitch of excellence as to be able to eat or drink any amount of the most virulent ,of poisons. The officials and doctots expressed the opinion that the whole affair was perfectly genuine, and explained the phenomenon by the proverb that habit is second nature. 4