Bottled Torture.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 12, 21 March 1908, Page 13

Bottled Torture.

STRANGE NEW PRACTICAL JOKE PROHIBITED. ‘The sale of “Bottled Torture,” the very latest novelty offered by City-street hawkers, has been prohibited by Dr. Collingridge, the medical officer of health. No longer will the cheerful cry of “Here you are. ‘Bottled Torture? Try it on your friends and see them squirm!” attract the curious in Cheapside and Holborn. “Bottled Torture,” which has greatly pleased practical jokers, is a light brown pod from a tropical plant, four inches long, and twisted like the letter S. The brilliant joke lies in placing it down the back or in the bed of an unsuspecting person, when it well justifies its awesome name. Dr. Collingridge, the City medical officer, has reported as follows:— “My attention was recently called by the assistant medical officer of the General Post Office to the serious results which followed the use of a material known as ‘Bottled Torture? “It was sold by a novelty dealer in the City for the purpose of practical joking. “In one case the victim suffered an extreme irritation of the skin, which almost amounted to cellulitis. “The pods of the tropical plant sold are clothed with stinging hairs, short stiff bristles of a bright brown colour. "The points of the hairs are notched, e finely serrated, and easily penetrate V”' skin, causing unbearable itching.” The Houndsditeh dealer, who imported new terror, when warned of the danp •• of the "novelty, * destroyed his stock, a wo md four retail dealers in other nuts of London.