VoL. ii., No. 2. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST OP AUSTRALASIA. 
41 
stated that Mr. Price assessed the value of the goodwill of the 
Hindley-street shop at £950, and the other shop at nothing. 
The stock in the former shop was valued at £2,188 11s. in No- 
vember, 1882. The balance in the bank at the time was £130 
8s. 5d., and book debts were valued at £549 17s. lid., so that 
a total of £2890 might be considered as the capital with which 
he started the business. He might put down £5 as the pro- 
bable estimated rental of the shop, but he insured the rent at 
£7 per week. Eepairs, rates, &c., involved an annual outlay of 
about £75. When the dissolution of the firm of Main andGeyer 
took place four of the assistants opened business in opposition 
He offered, if admitted as a partner in 1882, to guarantee Mrs. 
Geyer £6 per week for ten years, and to become responsible 
for all debts, &c. When stock was taken the unsaleable 
goods were valued at between £500 and £600. The stock was 
valued according to English price-lists, and the word “un- 
saleable” referred to goods that could not be got rid of at the 
counter at the old prices ; but quantities of the stuff were dis- 
posed of at low prices afterwards, and Messrs. Bickford had 
taken some of it. Witness remained neutral during the stock- 
taking, because of the possibility of his becoming a buyer as 
partner with Mrs. Geyer. Did net take stock after 1882 until 
asked by Mr. Bonnin last year. At no given time except by 
stock-taking could witness have told what he was making 
or losing on the business. The capital of £2,890 which Geyer 
Co. had at starting had been reduced to £1,126 6s. 
lOd. on August 1 last, which showed a falling-off 
of £1,764. Necessarily the value of the lease had 
depreciated also in the four years, during which time Mrs. 
Geyer had received out of the business £1,900 12s. 5d., in- 
cluding the £800 obtained on motgage from the Permanent 
Equitable Building Society. Did not know that the business 
was a losing concern until stock was taken last year, but knew 
that the business was going downhill when he felt that he 
could not buy goods in London. In December, 1882, the fire 
insurances on the stock amounted to £2,300, and in March, 
1884, the insurances were £3,000, as he continued an old 
policy for £700. Through being forced by lack of capital to 
buy in the Adelaide market, he had to pay from 50 to 100 per 
cent, more for stock than if he had continued purchasing 
in London. From November, 1882, to November, 1883, spent 
£400 in purchases from London, or one-third of the total 
expenditure for stock ; [in the following year he spent only 
£139 in London, or about one-seventh of the total ; and sub- 
sequently he made no more purchases in England. As a rule 
witness attended the shop on Saturday nights, and never 
during Saturday afternoons. Reckoned that during the 3f 
years he acted as manager the turnover on the business 
amounted to £8,231 19s. 6d. 
On the following day the judge ruled that the advertise- 
ment of dismissal was not libellous, but sent to the jury the 
question of damages for wrongful dismissal. The case was 
then adjourned till February 1. 
Death from Taking Laudanum. — On January 25 the Acting 
City Coroner {Mr J. Williams, J.P.) held an inquest on 
the body of Mr William Henry Scadden, Marion - street, 
Adelaide, who died that morning. Deceased had been 
out of work some time, and took what he said was a 
sleeping draught the night before. James Henry Young, 
chemist, of Hutt-street, stated that he was qualified as a 
chemist and druggist. Deceased had been to liim for 
sleeping draughts during the last six months. Deceased was 
suffering from insomnia. A fortnight ago witness made him 
a chloral draught. On Monday deceased called to purchase 
some laudanum. On January 22 gave him a morphia draught 
drachms), the solution containing three-quarters of a 
grain of morphia. That had very little effect, and on Monday 
night (January 24), about eight o’clock, deceased asked for a 
shilling’s worLi of laudanum. Gave it to him in a two-oz. 
bottle (produced) half-full. In about an hour and a half 
deceased returned and questioned the strength of the 
laudanum. He said that he had taken the laudanum, but it 
failed to put him to sleep. Witness declined to supply him 
with any more, but upon being pressed by disceased he gave 
him some more, advising him to take ten drops every ten 
minutes, and three doses would send him to sleep. He pro- 
rnised to comply with witness’s instructions, and witness gave 
hini another ounce. The Coroner — Were you not afraid of 
giving him more laudanum after you were informed he had 
taken an ounce? Witness — No; because deceased told me 
he had taken an ounce, and that he was accustomed to 
swallow great quantities at a draught. Altogether I gave him 
two bottles half-full. The Coroner — Do you habitually supply 
people with such large quantities at a time ? Witness — Yes ; 
persons often ask for a shilling’s worth (an ounce). The 
Coroner — Is there no check on selling laudanum in such large 
quantities ? Witness — I think not. It is left to the seller’s 
discretion. If Mr. Scadden had been a man whom I did not 
know I should not have supplied him. We only sell to those 
people who we think will take care of themselves. By 
Police-constable O’Connor — Is it not necessary to have a 
witness in the shop when you sell laudanum? Witness — No; 
laudanum, which is poison, is in the Act included in those 
poisons which are not required to be witnessed when sold to 
the public. I have frequently supplied deceased with 
laudanum in large quantities. Dr Niesche stated that on his 
arrival at deceased’s residence the man was dead ; concluded 
that he had died from an overdose of laudanum. If a man 
were addicted to taking laudanum he might take an ounce 
without it causing his death. The sale of any narcotic ought 
to be restricted more than it is. The Coroner considered that 
deceased must have taken the two doses about the same time. 
He must have reserved the first ounce till after he obtained 
the second ounce ; consequently he misled the chemist when 
he told him he had taken the first ounce. This was borne 
out by the fact that Mrs Scadden was ignorant of her husband 
having had two bottles of laudanum before he went to bed. 
Mr Young was somewhat careless in supplying] deceased with 
a second ounce, especially within such a short period after 
giving him the first ounce, and being told by the man that he 
had already taken an ounce. It was also absolutely necessary 
that further check should be placed on the sale of poisons. 
There were certain poisons which were allowed to be sold 
without being entered and witnessed in a book. Unfortunately 
laudanum was included in the list. It seemed from the 
evidence that deceased’s mind was troubled somewhat. The 
doctor considered that Mr Young was not to blame, for he 
was reluctant in supplying the man, but he (the Coroner) was 
of opinion that Mr Young should have exercised more dis- 
cretion than he did exercise. The jury returned the following 
verdict : — We are of opinion that deceased took an overdose of 
laudanum to produce sleep without any intention of com- 
mitting suicide, and therefore consider it a case of accidental 
death.” 
Mr. Woods, chemist and druggist, has established himself 
opposite the Town Hall, in Port Darwin. He has started the 
manufacture of hop beer and a quinine tonic beer. 
Insolvencies. 
A meeting of the creditors of Maximilian L. T. Birnbauni, 
late of Woodville, chemist, was held on Jan 7. 
TASMANIA. 
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. 
Hobart, Jan,. 1887. 
A meeting of the Hobart Chemists Association was con- 
vened for the 14th instant but lapsed through insufficient 
attendance of members. Messrs. Hinshy, Drake, Weaver, 
Toplis, and Ash “ rolled up to the fore,” but Mr. Toplis was 
immediately called away, when it was decided to adjourn for 
a week, or until an answer should be received from the Court 
of Medical Examiners re “ Antidote Labels,” who have been 
solicited by Mr. Ash, hon. sec. to the Association, to frame a 
series of standard labels to be used by each chemist, as re- 
quired by the “ Poisons Act.” I hardly know whether the 
Medical Board will agree to this, but the matter will be duly 
laid before them next meeting. There will be a chance of 
some enterprising firm of printers to issue a specimen series 
of labels with a probability of their acceptance by the Hobart 
I chemists to save themselves the bother. As a body they 
won’t take too much trouble about it. 
I must also inform you that Mr. Ash has given notice of 
his intention to resign the secretaryship, and I am sure that 
the ocher chemists will receive such intimation with regret. 
I hope that he may be persuaded to retain office. It will be a 
very great pity for the Association to come to the ground en- 
tirely, and just at present it requires a good deal of manage- 
ment to keep it together. If once dissolved it would be a 
difficult matter to restore it, as it is quite certain there is not 
sufficient interest displayed by the other members to give one 
the hope of its being successfully carried on afterwards. 
