A STRANGE SUICIDE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3371, 23 January 1884, Page 3

A STRANGE SUICIDE.

Dr G. Dransford Thomas held an inquest at the St. Giles Coroner’s Court (London) on the body of Mahomet Ismael Khan, twenty-seven years old, an Afghan, a member of the Koyal College of Surgeons, and licentiate of the Boyal College of Physicians, who had committed snicide. The coroner said a letter had been sent him by the deceased. It was a very long one, covering four sheets of paper, closely written. He would read extracts from it to show that deceased had thoroughly argued the matter in his mind for a long time. He left his things to his landlord and his wife for his kindness to him ; after death he wished the University Hospital to have his body for dissecting purposes, and afterwards his skeleton to be placed in the Museum of the College as the “ Afghan skeleton.” The letter went on to say“ I have of my own free will committed this act by taking a large dose of prussic acid. At the age of thirteen I was prepared for this, and again at twenty-one I intended blowing my brains out for a real grievance, but was prevented by the sagacity of a lady. lam born of noble family, and might have been a ruler some day in my own country, but I would not be dependent on my friends. After having doubly qualified myself, I determined to remain in this country, and applied for numerous posts, but could not obtain them, owing to my name and color. I advertised in the “ Lancet” bat directly my name and nationality were known I was refused, except in one case, when a dishonorable quack at Middlesborough engaged me to prescribe for his patients out of six colored bottles, and sign death certificates for people I had never seen. I have applied for a public appointment, but never received any answer to my letter. I have spent £ISOO in acquirir g my knowledge, and have no money left to start in practice. I cannot ask my mother for money she may want herself, and I have none left to pay my lodgings. I shall take all the bottles, although the contents of one will be sufficient, bo that there shall be no mistake. I slept well last night, but not so well as I shall sleep to-night. I shall take the poison at 3 a.m. I had a good dinner yesterday, but not too much, as that would spoil the postmortem.” The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased died from prussic acid, self administered, when he was suffering from mental depression produced by disappointment in life.