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IMPORTANT EXCISE PROSECUTION AT WOLVERHAMPTON. 
while faults of the latter kind are peculiarly apt to he hurtful, it must not therefore be 
supposed that the customary healthful habits need be changed. For instance, there is 
no reason to suppose that fruits and vegetables, of such kinds and in such states as would 
be wholesome in ordinary seasons, are unw'holesome when cholera is present; nor (sub¬ 
ject to what will directly be said about premonitory diarrhoea) is there any reason to 
believe that persons in good health ought in cholera times, with a notion of fortifying 
themselves against the disease, to take drugs or drams which they would not take in 
ordinary times. Anything to be wdsely done in this direction dught to be done under 
the advice of skilled medical practitioners, and except with such advice people ought to 
be most chary both of drugging themselves and of taking such pretended preservatives 
as are extensively offered for sale. 
“9. In places where cholera is present or threatening, one particular bodily ailment 
requires exceptional vigilance. That ailment is diarrhoea. For the most part in this 
country cholera begins somewhat gradually ; so that for some hours, or even days, before 
the symptoms become alarming, a so-called ‘premonitory diarrhoea’ may be observed. 
Where cholera is tending to be epidemic, there always exists, side by side with it, in the 
district a large amount of epidemic diarrhoea, representing in part the earlier stages, in 
other part the slighter degrees, of the same insidious and infectious malady. This 
diarrhoea (painless and apparently trivial though it be) may in any case suddenly convert 
itself into cholera; and, apart from the very serious significance of the symptom as 
regards the patient himself, it must be remembered that every such diarrhoeal patient 
may be a well-spring of infection to others. It also seems probable that accidental 
diarrhoea, originally independent of the epidemic influence, is, of all known personal 
conditions, the one on which the cholera-infection can most easily fix itself. And thus 
on all accounts it is of the most essential importance that no looseness of bowels should 
be neglected in places where cholera exists. A very important part of their Lordships’ 
Medical Belief Kegulations enjoins the making of local arrangements by which this 
object shall be secured for all the poorer inhabitants of infected districts; and other 
classes of the population are warned to be also vigilant for themselves. In any infected 
district every looseness of bowels or sickness of stomach ought, as quickly as possible, to 
be brought under skilled medical treatment; and if the symptoms begin at all sharply, 
or if they (however mild) do not very promptly yield to treatment, the patient ought 
invariably to remain in bed. 
“ 10. Too much importance cannot be attached to the duty of thoroughly disinfecting, 
without delay, with chloride of lime or otherwise, all discharges from the stomach and 
bowels of persons under the epidemic influence, as well as all bedding, clothing, towels, 
and the like, which such discharges may have imbued; and all privies and other like 
places to which such discharges may have access should be kept flooded with solution of 
sulphate of iron, or solution of carbolic acid.” 
IMPOETANT EXCISE PKOSECUTION AT WOLVEKHAMPTON. 
SELLI.VG METHYLATED SPIRITS WITHOUT A LICENCE. 
At the Wolverhampton Police Court, on Wednesday, a case of considerable importance 
to chemists and druggists, and not less so to the public at large, came on for hearing 
before the stipendiary magistrate, I. Spooner, Esq. It was an information laid at the 
instance of the Commissioners for Inland Revenue against Mr. Thomas Reade, chemist 
and druggist, of Cock Street, who was charged, first, with selling methylated spirits 
without a licence, and secondly, with selling certain methylated spirits coloured and 
flavoured to be used as a beverage. Mr. Marshall, of London, appeared on behalf of the 
Inland Revenue, and Mr. Motteram (of the Oxford Circuit), instructed by Mr. W. C. 
Umbers, defended. 
Mr. Marshall, in opening the case, said the information was laid under the 24th & 
25th of Victoria, chap. 91, sec. 5 and 6; and the penalty was for the first offence £50, 
and the second £100. The Board had ordered the information to be laid, as many other 
similar cases had occurred. 
Mr. Motteram : Pray don’t talk about other cases, as this is the only one we have. 
The others may be as absurd as this. 
