ABOUT A DISINFECTANT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 150, 21 December 1911, Page 4

ABOUT A DISINFECTANT.

One ef the commonest headings under "Accidents and Fatalities" in New Zealand newspapers is, "Another suicide by Lysol poisoning." One might believe that the terrible internal injuries resulting from the taking of this powerful irritant ■ would deter intending suit'idos , from .swallowing it, but it is perfectly safe to assert that the person who is demented and intends to destroy himself will do,so whatever poisons are or are not sold, It is reasoned that as a number of people sjhoot themselves, no, arm* should ba sold; that as some suir cides use knives or razors, these should be prohibited instruments; and so on. Unquestionably, however, the ease with which this powerful disinfectant can be obtained is the reason why it is so largely used. It is reasonable to infer that under some circumstances the aberration might be overcome, if this .easily obtained medium were hot so readily available. The condition that induced the aberration might bo abated and a useful life saved. We do not know why tliis irritant is not treated like common poisons, which cannot be procured in dangerous quantities without necessary formality, but it certainly is time that people should not be allowed, to purchase without (Juestion so deadly a disinfectant now commonly used as a means of suicide.