THE POISONS LAW

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 191, 8 May 1919, Page 8

THE POISONS LAW

"AN ARCHAIC LIST" CRITICISM OF A CHEMIST Some aspects of the New Zealand poisons law wore reviewed by Mr. J. S. Tingey, of Fcilding, in a paper which he read last night to the conference of the New Ztealand Pharmaceutical Socicty. "New Zealand has, I suppose, the most backward, or I may say, tho most foolish, poison lnw in tho British Empire," said Mr. Tingey. "It is perfectly legal to put certain caustic and deadly fluids in plain bottles (I have had beer bottles brought to me to be refilled with these fluids) without any mark whatsoever to show that tbe.y are poisons. There is not tho slightest'legal provision made to ensure that these poisonous fluids are put in bottles distinguishable by touch. There are certain well-known medicines which aro simply drug-hnbit-forming i nostrums., I have come across morphia and opium maniacs whose constant medicine consisted of an apparently harmless, wellknown line. Upon refusing to sell a particular preparation my would-be buyers informed mo that they could buy dozens from any store, which was perfectly correct. Our present Poisons Act is out of date in,regard to many points, but it is archaic in regard to its list of poisons. Some of the most deadly poisons need not be labelled 'poison' at all, and, of course, therefore need not bo signed for. Further, there are many drug-habit-form-ing soporifics, obtaining an increasingly wide''use, which also need not be labelled ( poison,' and can I>o sold without nny restraint whatsoever. In Great Britain no one may purchase them except on signing for'them, etc., and no one may sell them except persons.qualified by. examination of their knowledge of chenncnls, galenicals, etc.. Fortunately, in New Zealand, chemists havo taken it upon themselves to label properly these substances when sold, nnd to give due warning as to their use. "Thei;e is also a class of poisons, violent in their action, and health destroying, which havo been used somewhat extensively in England as abortifacients, but now in the English poison list, of which tbero is no legal need in New Zealand to mark them 'poison, even although I am _ afraid, the know'-edgo of such poisons, is lieginning tn spread' in New Zealand. Some years ago a person was murdered on the trip across to Australia by the aid of strychnine or arsenic. Soon after ■in Order-in-Council was issued making more stringent regulations in regard to the sale of these two substances, let this Order-in-Council is stultified by another Ordev-iu-Council, which allows any poison to bo sold without restraint if it is required for certain nsricultural or horticultural purposes. ' Therefore, one may buy arsenical preparations of the most poisonous character from almost any "hop where goods for the farm 01' orchard are sold, with no more ceremony beyond labelling than is required to buy a pound of butter. Another and later Order-in-Council was mr.de comprehensively bringing any compound containing any poison within the respective provisions of Parts 1 and 2 of the first schedule This automatically and unintentionall.v placed many Part 2 preparations In Vart 1. This was found to_ l)o 60 widesweeping in regard to certain preparations that the police have received Instructions to take no action in regard to their illegal sale. ,We arc in a very .chaotic state, and one full of danger. "In the years 1915 and 191G in New Zealand the total number of deaths that were known to bo caused by jxiisoning were 6lxty, and of these thirty-five were cases of suicide. In the public'hospitals in that period, there were 130 cases of accidental poisoning, exclusive of ptomaine cases, But the public hospital cases do not include all cases.- I have known of such cases that aro taken to private hospitals. The want of a proper poisons lavt is a menace to the country. Wo. are about fifty yews behind Great Britain in this respect, whero it has beoa found- Imperatively necessary to bring tho law up to date. It is just as necessary here, where neurotic people and peoplo with criminal and suicidal tendencies have the way made easy for them. Tho most ignorant person-in regard to chemicals and poisons in NewZealand can put up . and retail a medicino containing poisons and there ts no law to stop his doing so. The most ignorant pers.on also can apply for a license to sell poisons, and it is given to him without any fee or reward. He need have absolutely no knowledge of poisons; as long as his name is on the is sufficient. He can sell as much cocaine as he likes, for instance, although cocaine craving can 'be established in a day or two, and in from five to six months a.man may become a moral degenerate.' "Great Britain, France, and other civilised oountries have made most | stringent regulations in regard to the sale of poisons, and especially cocaine and its derivations. . An offence in France against the poisons regulations in iegard to cocaine condemns tho offender on conviction to a fine .of from ,£lO to ,£4OO, and imprisonment from three months io two years,-and no one may sell it or other similar poisons who-is not qualified by education to do so. In New Zealand an ignoramus ma" apply nnd is granted n license to sell and handle any poison.' 7 Mr. Tingey they detailed to the conference tho draft of a Bill which he i.ou.sidored should be passed, to meet tho situation he had related. Ho proposed thrco schedules instead of two, to meat the varying conditions under which poisons should be sold. Tn this manner every legitimate call for poisonous substances could bo properly met without any hampering of the trade in poisons, anil at tho same time earo would be 'exercised to prevent as much as posaibl.o the criminal or accidental,. use of poisons. -, At the conclusion of his remark?, Mr. Tingey .was accorded a hearty vote of thank's.