Friday, August 17, 2007
Fruit poisons 3 kids in Toledo
THREE children were poisoned after eating the fruit of a tuba-tuba tree in Barangay Campo Otso, Toledo City Wednesday afternoon.
Maria Lyngie, 4, her brother John Kenneth, 2, and cousin Emmanuel Parame, 5, were left with Maria’s mother.
They were supposed to take a bath near the well but Maria and John’s mother was still washing clothes. She did not notice them leave and go to the tuba-tuba tree.
They reportedly used something to make the fruits drop to the ground. When they had enough, they pounded the fruits and ate them.
Bienvenida, the child-ren’s grandmother, said that when the children’s mother came looking for them, she saw them crouching because of the pain they felt in their stomachs.
At first, she thought they ate the fruits of a santol tree because it is already in season.
But when she asked them if it was the santol fruit that they ate, the children shook their heads. She then noticed that they smelled of tuba-tuba and when she asked if they had eaten some of its fruits, they nodded.
Many uses
After feeling stomach pains, they began vomiting, prompting their elders to rush them to the Toledo City District Hospital.
Bienvenida said it was fortunate they were able to bring the children to the hospital immediately.
The three were declared out of danger.
Bienvenida said the tree has benefited them and their neighbors since they have been using it to cure canker sores and other ailments.
But because of the incident, she said they plan to cut down the tree.
Tuba-tuba (Jatropha curcas) is being developed as a source of biodiesel fuel.
Its roots, flowers and sap are said to have medicinal properties. (MEA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 17, 2007 issue)
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