AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 
491 
be  procured  from  the  general  storekeepers  without  difficulty,  and  the  practice 
of  keeping  poisons  for  destroying  vermin  and  animals,  by  the  country  store- 
keeper, is  very  common  throughout  the  whole  Western,  Southern,  and  Middle 
Srates.  Perhaps  the  chief  demand  for  arsenic  from  country  stores  is  by  farmers 
and  millers  as  a  ratsbane.  The  tastelessness  and  effectiveness  of  this  poison 
renders  it  superior  to  all  others  for  this  purpose,  and  hence  its  employment  in 
mills  and  barns,  where  it  has  too  often  occasioned  accidents  to  horses  and  to 
poultry  ;  to  the  latter  from  the  sweepings  of  the  mill  floor,  sold  commonly  for 
the  purpose  of  feeding  such  stock.  Several  valuable  horses  were  destroyed  in 
this  way  near  Bladensburg,  Maryland,  a  few  months  since. 
Our  correspondent  at  Sacramento  California,  Mr.  G.  L.  Simmons,  states, 
"  that  large  quantities  of  all  kinds  of  poisons  are  sold  by  grocers  as  wrell  as  by 
druggists.  The  larger  part  is  used  for  the  destruction  of  animal  life.  The 
regular  sales  of  strychnia  must  be  immense.  Its  more  speedy  effects  than  most, 
other  poisons  is  liked  by  the  "  Ranche-men,"  who  are  the  principal  customers. 
Arsenic,  is  also  sold  but  chiefly  as  ratsbane.  Since  the  year  1849,  no  case  of 
poisoning  by  arsenic  has  come  to  my  knowledge." 
We  have  reason  to  believe  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  strychnia  made,  is 
used  to  poison  wolves  and  other  carnivorous  wild  animals  in  the  newly  settled 
territories  where  the  population  is  sparse.  It  is  generally  admitted,  that  the 
sale  of  arsenic  by  druggists  in  the  Atlantic  cities  has  increased  many  fold  within 
ten  years.  The  quantity  is  vastly  too  great  for  use  as  a  poison,  and  we  believe 
the  demand  is  chiefly  attributable  to  the  requirements  of  new  branches  of  manu- 
factures, and,  perhaps,  by  wool  growers.  In  reference  to  strychnia,  the  increased 
use  of  which  is  directly  attributable  to  the  pioneers  and  hunters  of  our  exten- 
sive and  rapidly  peopling  territories,  both  for  the  purposes  of  the  fur  trade,  and 
protection  from  the  dangerous  carnivora,  it  may  be  stated  that  from  the  best 
data  the  committee  can  arrive  at,  between  5,000  and  6,000  ounces  are  manu- 
factured annually  in  this  country,  from  about  120,000  pounds  of  nux  vomica, 
besides  what  is  imported  ;  and  that  one  manufacturer  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  year 
ending  June  3,  made  1840  ounces  from  about  40,000  lbs.  of  that  drug. 
As  regards  cases  of  suicide,  the  poison  most  frequently  chosen  is  laudanum  or 
opium,  not  only  because  it  can  be  readily  obtained  without  suspicion,  but  be- 
cause the  suffering  is  avoided.  The  immense  increase  in  the  consumption  of 
opium  and  its  preparations,  is  a  subject  that  deeply  concerns  the  well  wisher  of 
society.  Their  substitution  for  alcoholic  liquids  is  but  too  frequent.  The  Com- 
mittee have  not  entered  into  this  branch  of  their  inquiry,  however,  and  have  not 
obtained  any  facts  to  communicate. 
In  making  any  suggestions  with  a  view  to  remedying  the  evils  appertaining  to 
the  trade  in  poisons,  the  committee  feel  the  necessity  of  keeping  in  sight  the 
habits  and  peculiarities  of  the  people  who  are  consumers,  and  do  not  believe  that 
the  stringent  measures  adopted  in  Europe  are  calculated  to  work  well  in  this 
country.  The  absolute  free  trade  which  now  exists,  and  its  general  use  as  a 
ratsbane,  exhibits  a  remarkable  carefulness  in  the  use  of  arsenic,  in  so  far  as 
fatal  accidents  are  concerned.  We  believe  that  by  far  the  larger  portion  of 
apothecaries  and  retail  druggists  are  careful  in  labelling  this  poison,  and  observe 
some  discrimination  in  its  sale.  As  a  class,  they  are  better  fitted  by  their 
knowledge  and  judgment  to  guard  against  mal-uses  than  general  dealers.  We 
are  therefore  prepared  to  recommend  to  the  Association  that  the  State  Legis- 
latures, who  have  not  enacted  laws  on  this  subject,  be  petitioned  to  pass  laws  in 
their  several  jurisdictions,  confining  the  sale  of  arsenic,  corrosive  sublimate, 
opium,  strychnia  and  other  poisons  popularly  known  as  such,  for  destroying  life, 
to  druggists,  apothecaries  and  physicians,  who  shall  keep  an  accurate  record  of 
such  sales.  That  such  sales  shall  not  be  made  to  minors  or  servants,  unless 
properly  authorized  by  a  responsible  person  ;  that  all  packages  or  bottles  shall 
be  distinctly  labelled  with  the  name  of  the  poison,  and  the  word  "  poison  !  I"  or  a 
death's  head  symbol,  conspicuously  printed,  and  that  any  sale  of  poisons  fol- 
lowed by  accident,  in  which  these  precautions  shall  not  have  been  observed,  be 
considered  a  misdemeanour  punishable  by  legal  process. 
And  to  further  recommend  that  the  druggists  and  apo'hecaries  of  the  United 
