Poisoning by Chlorodyne

At the hearing of the charge of attempted suicide against Louis Elerig at Wanganui Police Court, it was shown that the accused had drunk a quantity of chlorodyne, after , leaving ;a short letter 'as foUQWB^'VD^ar Wife and Children :M'm off j ta-ta ! '' Elerig had been: drinking. Dr Tripe; in giving -evidence, said he did not recollect having ever seen a man so near to death and then recover. It was only the most unremitting attention that saved him. In answer to Mr Kettle, the witness paid there was sufficient poison in the bottle to cause death. Chlorodyne, he "believed, could be purchased in the grocers' shops, besides the chemist*', and should not be allowed to be sold as it was. Mr Kettle said lie would like, in view of $he opinion expressed by Dr Tripe, that further inquiries should be made aB to the sale of chlorodyne, and at his request Mr Williamson, chemist, and his asaatant were sent for. Mr Williamson stated that the . bottle of chlorodyne in question might have baen purchased in his shop — he did not register those bottles. He believed that the restriction as to tbe sale of chlorodyne was tnat the wcrd " Poison '* should bo attached by label to the bottle. It; was a poison that could be bought in grocero' shops, but in bis opinion it should only be sold by licensed chemists or by ' some persons registered under the Acb. It chlorodyne came under the Act he would take the ordinary precautions in Helling it and would, of course, conform to tbe Act. There was nothing whatever to keep him from selling chlorodyne without these precautions, but ' in his opinion they should be taken. There. were restrictions a^ninst the sale of chlorodyne in Victoria. Elerjg w.as committed . for trial at', the sittings of the District Court, Jo be held in Wariganui next month, and ib is to be hoped- that the publicity gi^n to hiß-«&B3 will lead.lo Eome amendment cf the law dealing with the sale of poisons.