biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-07-25

s:tourf2ribv (Oseaer.

SATURDAY, JULY 25,180.

EMIGRATION.

A very well maintained controversy has been
carried on for some weeks past in the columns
of an influential London contemporary, on Cte
subject of Marriago or Celibacy. Much that is
important, but little that is new, has been
brought out in the discussion ; but incidentally
it has been proved more clearly than ever before,
that one great want of our age is an organised
system of emigration. Let us take a compre•
hensive country, and then look at the lands
which, for want of a better word, we call new
countries, and we shall inevitably conic to this
conclusion.

For many years past England —and we will
confine our remark's to this per ion of the United
Kingdom—has been increasing in population.
Her wealth in the aggregate has been also on
the increase, but the individual prosperity of
the middle and working classes, taken in con-
nntion with the increasing luxury of the age,
has not increased. The era of free trade has
also been productive of important results. Free
trade is an absolute necessity of advancing civi-
lisation. Sooner or later, all civilised and com-
mercial countries must conic to it. Old world
notions of protection cannot Amid against natu-
ral development, and ssgaiust the sound princi-
. pies of right and justice. But as there is no
' unadulterated good, even free trade haft its
drawbacks. That it is working well, and is
tendiug to the good of the whole world, cannot
Ire disputed ; bat it may be questioned whether
free trade has not, in sours complicated way, in-
creased the feverish competition of our com-
mercial masses, and whether it has not, on the
whole, rendered the condition of the great em-
ployed class somewhat more competitive and
difficult. We do not assert that it is so, but we
think it will he readily admitted that the struggle
fer it living in accordance with the demands of
oar increasingly civilised age, was never fiercer
than it now is. The advance of education, by
rendering large numbers of people capable of
taking— or rather qualifying to take—high-class
situations than was over previously the case, is
also, partly the cause of the present fierceness
of competition among the employed industrial,
or wages class. But, whatever be the causes,
the fact is indisputable, that the supply of la-
bonr —and in the generic term we include pro-
fessional services, mental or sedentary employ-
ments of all kinds, skilled labour generally, and
ordinary trade occupations—is greater than the
deniand. This or that trade, or branch of em-
ployment, may be adduced as proving the con-
trary, but take an assertion in its wide accepta-
tion and it will not readily be disputed.
Now let us look abrond, full vee if natural
outlets for superabundant mental seed physical
energy are not to be found elsewhere. We will
. take the statements of those only who can speak
I
with authority and experience on the matter.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-07-25

A LADY POISONED BY STRYCHNLL

An inquest has been held in London at No. 1,
Kensington Palace-gardens, on Miss Louisa Jane
bland Ctunpbell, aged lb!. Decea.,ed had recently
arrived in Loudon on a visit from Scotland, in
ill-
health, and, accord ng to preacripion, seas to have
taken at regular intervals lineal clues) live drops of
strychnia in some watt r. On Thursday, before dinner,
she poured the prescribed portion of strychnia from a
bottle which contained four grains into another bottle
very similar in appearance. Upon going down to
dinner she took up the bottle containing the three
grains in mistake for the one into which she had put
the one grain, and the difference in quantity was not ,
subsequently noticed, as tne small date of strychnia
hid been mixed with another fluid in the bottle.
Upon arriving at the dinner table deceased emptied
the bottle she had taken by mistake into sonic mater
and .hank the mixture. She immediately sprang no
in great °hula, exclaiming, 'My God ! my God! I
have taken poison! 1 have taken the wrong medicine!"
and then rushed into the drawing-room. A medical
man was sent for, but she expired in great agony in
half an hour.
The Coroner remarked that it would be most ad-
visable to put all poisonous medicines in black I stales,
which would sufficiently distinguish them. Be thought
heuould have saved the lady if ho had been present, As
a apuonful of mustard, or some common table salt
were remedies that might have been applied wit).
success. Verdict—" Death from the atoidantal taking
of a poisonous dose of strycluda.'

The f 'Hewing oorrespondence, containing very
valuable hint. for guidance in onnilar cases, haaboeu
tent for publication
(From a Chemirt

•
Mini Campbell's sad end ought to suggest some plan
of preventing a poesible chance of its ii-petition Great
danger now exists iron, the fashion of orderdig concentrated
(onus of niedirine to lie taken in drops or lea-poonful s, as
drops vary truth in size, and the modtrn teaspoon holds
take the quantity held by Ike old teaspoon when it Pan
adopted as a measure for medicine, idol allot liquor u.0,-
phin, liquor Elychnia. It., were unknown even to the
profession.
his danger is apparent, as shown in Miss Campbell's ease,
front the fact of her stogie ounce bottle cognomina Musty-
sin doers, or enough to endanger the lives of many peloool.
The lath& would he far safer if phslli.iil3,ll wouOui Order their
medicine In dran.lds, or .ingle ihve ln,itlon, in they toned to
do in nil innoriant carve ilarty .) ear. since, or hi the gra-
duated four or six dose buttles, now lit general use.