THE SALE OF POISONS.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 45, 22 August 1892, Page 4

THE SALE OF POISONS.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir — Concerning the indiscriminate) sulo of poisons ooourring daily in this colony, it may he well to draw publio attention to the position in which unqualified retailers of aooallod " patent medicines," and artioles containing statutory poisons, now find themselves in the Home country. Ever since the passing of the Pharmacy Act of 1868, tho idea has prevailed that the use of the Government stamp on any preparation containing a " poison " was sufficient to remove it from the provisions of clause 17 of that Aot, whioh provides that no preparation of certain scheduled poisons shall be sold unless labellod " Poison," and with the lame and address of the seller. Under this impression, immense quantities of " patent " medicines containing "poison" have been sold to such an extent and at snch prices as to bring them within the roaoh of all. and that they have been used as lethal agencies is abundantly shown by verdicts of coroners' juries and evidence of medical men times without number, and yet, owing to the prevalent idea, the hands of those administering the Aot have been tied, nor could they be otherwise than so, seeing that some of themselves were also law-breakers in that re«peot. I now quote from the address of the President of the Pharmaceutical Society, delivered in London on the 18th of May List, He »jg " That during the btst ton years especially, Coroners And othors have been writing letters, and juries have returned verdicts, and if you look to the Registrar-General's reports, you will find that oases of accidental and wilful poisoning have ocourred to a very Urge extent with certain so-called patent medicines. Therefore it is perfectly natural that from tho public point of view they should appeal to us. m they have in many caseß. We haye had letterupon letter from the Privy Counoil announcing the verdicts of juries, tre have_ received letters oouohed in strong language from Coroners' and othors with regard to the law. We have felt ourselves in a difficulty; that we had not power to , interfere. Accordingly, that being the ease, the matter, not long ago, became a sort of test cage. before a Magistrate. The Government undertook tho prosecution, and you know what was the result." The result Alluded to was that tho proprietor of this patent" medioine was fined for not complying with the provisions of olause 17, regarding tho sale of certain poisonous preparations, and the popular idea of exemption under a patent medicine stamp was for ever exploded. Thus, the effect of the groat 'Chlorodyne case" will be to confine tho aale of a large number of patent medioines to those who, Toy speoial education and training, are alone fitted for their oustody— i.e. , the registered chemists and druggists of the .kingdom; all retailers not so registered

hemp officially declared inolifriblo to deal :n -hem It lnay !¦() nuked, what han this to 'lo with Npw Zealand ? Simply this, that hero, no restriction in placed on the sale of thoHO samo articles, which can be procured nt almost any store in town or country ; and while chemists and drugpials, who aloue are <|imlifiod to deal in such things, are under legislative control, yet Htorekeepera who are ignorant of their properties and heedless of their disposal, are allowed unrestricted freedom in their sale. When we consider the many poisoning caaes reported from timo to time, it ia apparent some control should be exeromnd over irresponsible vendors. We have only to think of tho Pahiatua tragedy, of one moro recently on the West Coast, of the many despairing ones who sefk an end to their woes in Rough on Rats, Vermin Killer, and other easily-obtained poisons, to say nothing of accidental over-doseß of chlorodyne, chloral, and such-liko, and the urgent need of restriction becomes clear enough. Wo have a Pharmacy Act on somewhat similar linos to that of England, and with tho example of a magisterial decision there for our guidance, by all means let those who administer the Act put its provisions in force, and if needful get it amended in that direction, and so put somo check on the indiscriminate Balo and use of potent preparations, which aro just as easily used for evil as for good. Ah a necessary sequel to the decision alluded to, "Tho Council of tho Pharmaceutical Society bas ordered the requisite preliminary steps to bo taken for instituting legal proceedings against certain traders who, not boiiiff registered chemists and druggiMti,aro selling these preparations." (Phprm. joum., 4th Juu»). I venture, sir, to think tbn timo is at hand when some of theso " preliminary steps " might bo taken in this nountry. I am, &c, T. H. HUBTWICK. 10th August. 1892.