REGULATIONS FOR PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION IN PROVINCES. 89 
An inquest was held, but as all those who could have given any evidence were killed, 
the jury could only return a verdict of “ Accidental death.” 
It has been supposed that a portion of the nitro-glycerine had crystallized, as in the 
Newcastle accident, and exploded from the concussion caused in passing over a rough 
road. 
At a meeting of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, it was stated, with reference 
to the above case, that the Acts of the Board contained no provision for the detention of 
nitro-glycerine, unless marked “ specially dangerous.” It is the intention of the Board 
to get an Act to assimilate with the Gunpowder Act of 1865, to enable them to deal 
with this and the like explosives. 
In connection with the above case, Mr. R. Humphreys, manager of the Enamelled 
Slate Works, Carnarvon, has been summoned before the mayor, charged with keeping 
on his premises a dangerous and explosive substance, called “ dynamite,” the premises not 
being duly licensed for the purpose. 
Mr. Orlando Webb, owner of the dynamite, gave evidence that it was not explosive, 
unless it had a percussion cap of strong fulminate powder applied to it. Sergeant- 
Major Howells described an experiment made on a cask of it in 1868, when Mr. Webb 
and others were present. The cask was shot at, and on a second occasion it exploded 
with terrific force. The magistrates, in acquitting the defendant on this occasion, de¬ 
clined granting a certificate prohibiting further investigation. 
SUSPECTED POISONING BY ARSENIC. 
At S waff ham the magistrates have been occupied with the investigation of a case of 
suspected poisoning. Two persons, named William George Davy and Susannah Davy, 
husband and wife, were brought up charged with administering a quantity of arsenic to 
John Mayes* Davy, a brother of the male prisoner, with intent to kill and murder 
him. John Mayes Davy is a*single man and a working miller at Swaffham. William 
George Davy is a baker, at Pakefield, near Lowestoft, Suffolk. The mother of the Davys 
lately died, leaving a little property,- which she bequeathed in equal portions to her sons. 
On the 8th ult. John Mayes Davy went to London to receive his own and his brother’s 
share of the legacy. He returned from London by way of Pakefield for the purpose of 
spending a few days with his brother, to whom he paid £40—his share of the legacy. 
Before John Mayes Davy left his brother’s house, Mrs. Davy gave him six small currant 
cakes, which she said she had made for him as she knew he liked therm John Mayes 
Davy ate three of the cakes and felt no ill effects, but while eating a fourth cake he re¬ 
marked that the cake contained some white specks in it. As soon as he reached home he 
was seized with violent vomiting and purging, which continued nearly all the night. 
Mr. Marriott, surgeon, was sent for, and at once pronounced the man to be suffering 
from the effects of poison. The remains of the fourth cake, which had not been quite 
eaten, were handed to Mr. Marriott, who on analysing the contents found a great quan¬ 
tity of arsenic,—so much, indeed, that it could be seen with the naked eye. The theory 
of the prosecution now instituted against William George Davy and his wife is that 
they wished to obtain possession of the second share of the legacy. John Mayes Davy 
was confined to his bed for some days. 
REGULATIONS FOR THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE PHAR¬ 
MACEUTICAL SOCIETY IN THE PROVINCES. 
The Middle Class Examinations of Oxford, Cambridge, or Durham, and the Examina¬ 
tion of the College of Preceptors, or of any legally constituted Examining Body of the 
United Kingdom, provided Latin is included as one of the subjects., are accepted in lieu 
of this Examination, or, where the Candidate resides more than ten miles from London, 
he may be examined by a graduate of one of the Universities of Great Britain, a 
member of the College of Preceptors, or an Examined Pharmaceutical Chemist ap¬ 
proved and appointed to conduct such examination by the Council of the Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal Society. 
