aad ie D. J. Macgowan on Chinese Poisons. — 229 
ance on the head of a species of stork. Whatever the agent may 
be, it is unquestionably one of great potency. An officer who 
Was eye-witness to the decapitation of the venerable and lamented 
general, Yu Tsien, informs us that when that victim of Manchu 
malignity was lead out to slaughter, something was placed on the 
.) i gue, which, without the infliction of pain, rendered 
him insensible in less than half an hour. Friendly mandarins 
_ then retained his moribund frame in an erect posture to receive 
the painless death blow 
Several kinc 
th other edible poisons are em-. 
bery or murder. For suicide, 
Pure gold is not uncommonly used; it 
are 
heap and abundant, is not easily pro- — 
were early 
Quicksilver has also been — 
= 
