THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3728, 6 December 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880.

The result of the inquest oil Mr Brown of Auckland, who died as at first feared from the effects of poison, is only remarkable as demonstrating the carelessness observed in the handling of poisonous drugs. Within the last few months several instances of death from the effects of poison have come to light, and it is quite time more stringent measures were taken for the prevention of the sale of virulent poisons to people who are ignorant of their proper uses, and who are not aware of their terrible strength. The rules with regard to the sale of poisonous medicines tend to exonerate the vendor rather than to extend any protection to the vendee. A person requires a certain amount of poison, signs the chemist's book in the presence of a witness, and obtains what he seeks. The signature to the book attested by a witness is sufficient to relieve the chemist of blame, but it does not prevent the purchaser using the poison for purposes of self-destruction, if he is suicidally inclined. Strychnine, prussic acid, arsenic, laudanum, belladonna (or deadly nightshade), and sulphuric, nitric and carbolic acids, besides others are deadly poisons, and yet by signing a book a person oan purchase all or sundry at will. The favorite excuse for obtaining poison is to "put a dog out lof its misery." People who use strychi nine for the purpose of killing caniue | animals are not aware of the danger they run, as they do not know where the poison may stop. The animal might fall into water used for household purposes, or otherwise endanger [the lives of the neighbors. It is a bad habit to practice poisoning dogs through the agency of strychnine. Such is the character of this drug that when buried for years it maintains its extraordinary virtue. Arsenic is often used by un»

principled men for the purposes of putting horses in good condition, as the use of it creates an appetite. It is quite time something should ba done to prevent the sale of deadly poisons to people who do not know their true character, and we would suggest that the sale of virulent drugs should be strictly prohibited outside the trade, and duly qualified members of the medical faculty. Until this step is taken, we may expect to find the number of cases of " death from poison " as numerous as they have been of late, as the present system assists people in carrying out a suicidal intent, and often results in a premature demise through their inadvertantly taking an overdose of poison through ignorance of proper quantities. '