BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims

Subject: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: Thompson
Date: 13 Oct 24 - 04:41 AM

Rumour, urban legend or real danger? "Devil's Breath" is reputed to be used in thousands of robberies in Colombia; now it's come to Europe, with victims in a trance prepared to bring their attackers home and take all their riches out of hiding and hand them over.
Here "souffle du diable" is in Paris (throw the piece through Google Translate).

Subject: RE: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 13 Oct 24 - 12:20 PM

If you click on the first link it is quite clear in its opening sentence:
"One of the most enduring hoaxes you might hear in a backpacker hostel is that of the drug-soaked business card: "

Subject: RE: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 24 - 12:49 PM

Brugmansia. It's one of those plants related to jimson weed in the New World (sacred datura) that has Church of Native American ritual uses. Culturally the properties have been understood for a long time.

Nigel is right, though. It's a lot of work to get someone to ingest this stuff. It probably is an urban legend, if not an outright hoax. (Snopes says it is False).

Subject: RE: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 Oct 24 - 09:02 AM

Sounds like roofies to me

Subject: RE: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 24 - 10:29 AM

I don't think there's anything subtle about jimson weed and its ilk. This site seems to have a good writeup:

The plant is a member of the nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, petunias and tobacco. Members of this family typically contain organic compounds that range from beneficial to toxic. Compounds in sacred datura are psychedelic, and the plant was important to native Americans in their sacred ceremonies. However, if misused, these same compounds are fatal.

Another site doesn't hesitate to spell out the dangers:

Then there are the folks who have misused Sacred Datura because compounds in the plant are psychedelic and with misuse death is inevitable. The effects of ingesting Sacred Datura can happen within minutes to hours. Symptoms include; delirium, thirst, distorted vision, uncoordinated movement, high temperature, a rapid and weakened heart beat, convulsions, coma, and death.

Someone dosed with it is more likely to go into convulsions than go into their bank account and empty it for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Oct 24 - 02:37 PM

Someone dosed with it is more likely to go into convulsions than go into their bank account and empty it for you
quote That is not what thompson quoted
here is his post and quote
"Devil's Breath" is reputed to be used in thousands of robberies in Colombia; now it's come to Europe, with victims in a trance prepared to bring their attackers home and take all their riches out of hiding and hand them over.
Here "souffle du diable" is in Paris (throw the piece through Google Translate).

Subject: RE: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 24 - 06:49 PM

"Reputed" is part of the myth. What I quoted is what actually happens with the plant. Pay attention to the difference.

Subject: RE: BS: Devil's Breath and robbery victims
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Oct 24 - 01:03 AM

Hear Hear