The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-25 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

The annual general meeting of the members of the
college was held yesterday at the institution, Gower•street,
for the purpose of receiving a report from the council on
the present state of the college, and for the election of
officers.
The report gore a eatisfactory account of the state and prospects of
the college. The distribution of academical honours and rewards was
satisfactory. Of the 50 graduates of the University of London, 33
had proceeded from University College; and both the scholarships
in arut, on taking the B.A. degree, had been awarded to its students;
that in mathematics to Mr. Walter llaptiot, that in classics to Mr.
W. Ruabton. In mentioning the recent institution of the new pro.
frothrthp of the Mechanical Principle* of Engineering, end the
appoinunent of the eminent engineer, Mr. Eaton llodskiroan, to that
chair, it was explained that his eturne would be auxiliary to those
of the tholes..., of Natural Philosophy and a Jed Eurrineerine,
treating hi detail of subjects in which be hot distinguished himself
by his investigations, discoveries, and writings, and which the mops
or the lectures of his colleagues would only admit of their had-
dentally alluding to. Of the fiances it wax reported that the
entire expenditure of the year 11,111 17,373 f., and that
the ordinary Income was 14,3101. • that to male up the
deficiency which bail been mainly incurred for the erection of the
Laboratory of chemistry, improvements to the elasasooms, sod aug-
mentations of prefix-rots' emoluments, the mile of 4001. Corools bad
been resorted to. In conclusion the council congratuldid the mass-
berm of the college on the completion of the rosin buthrour of the hos-
pital be the erection of them rth wing. The intention of erecting
new dispensary mid waiting, roma for the better accommodation of
outthauents was announced ; and an ardent appeal for ~o 1 towards
accompliatiing that object was made, on the ground that it was one in
which the interests of humanity, rather than those of roietce, were
• principally concerned.
[ Ar, solution was passed for the adoption and printing of
[ the report ; a list of donors to the library was read ; and the
ballot for officers then commenced. The following was the
result : President, Lord Brougham ; Vice-1 resident, Earl
of Auckland, G.C.D. ; Treasurer, J. Taylor, Esq., F.E.S. •
Councillors, J. E. Blunt, Esq., Lord Campbell, lion. It.
Denman, Earl Fortescue, J. W. Mylne, Esq., 11. Way-
mouth, Esq. ; Auditor, T. F. Gibson, Esq.

ALLEGED DEATH FIIOM POISONOUS MEDI-
CINE, AND COMMITTAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER.
An adjourned inquest was held on Friday hat, by
Mr Waleley, M.P., coroner, to investigate the death of Miss
Sarah Ellen Collyer, at the Whentsheaf, High-street, Cam-
den-town. "Dr." Cronin was in attendance, reprmented.by
Mr. Tennant, as his professional adviser.
Dr. Scolfern, who had been appointed to make a mi-
nute analysis of the mixture taken by the deceased, and
also the bitter almond water used in its composition, was
tint called.—He said, I made my analysis at the laboratory
of the Pharmaceutical Society, in the presence of D.
Venahles, Dr. Cronin, Mr. Weathers, Mr. Bell, and
Mr. Tonally. After having explained the analysis mi-
nutely and technically, the Doctor proceeded to say
that not more than four drops of prussic acid of Scheele's

strength had been added by Mr. Corteld, the chemist, in dis-
pensing the medicine tor deceased. I ada (continued witness)
tried experiments with the black oxide of iron said to be in the
compound powder of strychnia prescribed by " Dr." Cronin,
and I find it will not produer prussian blue—A Juror :
What would have been the effect et the strychnia powder on
the medicine had it been put in?—Dr. Scoffern: The mixture
would have been more poisonous—Coroner: Will you state
the results of your analysis in plain terms to the jury ?
Dr. Scoffern : There were sixty minims, or rather more than
one drachm, of Plsarmaeopada prussic acid Mono ounce of the
mixture taken by deceased.—toroner : How much would be
a dose for en adult?—Dr. Seoffern : We are ordered by the
Pharmaeopoia not to give more than fifteen minim , loch is
• very large dose. It would be a difficult thing to say how
much is • dose of compound strychnia powder. There is no
compound powder of strychnia ineutior td in the " British
Pharrnacopecia."
Mr. Weathers agreed with Dr. Seoffern in every par-
ticular. Dr. Venables also agreed with the statement of
Dr. Seoffern, and added : I bola in my hand " Dr." Croatin's
prescription. I have never prescribed bitter almonds water
myself, tither externally or int rustily ; hut I have prussic
acid. I have never seen it writs, n on any prescription ex-
cept
this. I never knew compound strychnia powder to be
used except by 1)r. Cronin. I have purchased some Litter
Min .nds waterat Mr. Freach's, the chemist, in Holborn, since
the last adjournment. It appears to be the cameos that pre-
scribed by Dr. Cronin, and was labelled precisely as written
in Dr. Cronin's prescription, " aqua amygilake amar.e." It
is quite a harmless mixture. A person might take two or
throe ounces of it without itlly ill enacts.
Dr. Crania : That is exactly tie point. I deny that the
mixture taken by the yoummg laly, wiiieh caused Per death,
was the prescription I ordered.
Mr. Bell agreed with Dr. Scoffcrn as to the analysis, end
said it was clear the medicine was prepared correctly, from
the prescription, by Mr. Cortield. There are eiithtewn varieties
of hitter almonds water, prepared from continental pharma.
oopeeias, all varying in strength from 10 to 50 per cent. All
'Uttar almonds waters are poisons, mere or lest —Catherine
Crawley, set vaut to Miss Colivar, proved taking the prescrip-
tion to be made up by Mr. Cm'rfield.
Dr. Vinables, recalled : I have tested bitter almonds
water purchased of Mr. French, of Holborn, nod find that
one fluid ounce contains 1-15th of a grain of prussic arid.—
Dr. Cronin: Had the bitter almonds water bought imp you
at Mr. French's been used in Miss Collyer's medicine, would
it have killed her?
_ .

Dr. Venable': No, it would not. It would net have been
dangerous in aoy way. (Dr. Cronin here handed to the
witness 't Gray's Supplement to the Pharmacopteia," from
which he read an extract, to show the composition of bitter
almond water.) "Gray's Supplement to the l'harmacoptria"
is a book of authority. Tne snick read is the same as
Dr. Croniu'a prescription. I regard it as a poison, but much
depends on strength. It is not the practice of physicians to
prescribe po *mous waters not in the " Phormacopreia."
Mr. Wakley said ho would like to hear any chemist Dr.
Cronin thought proper to call.
Mr. John Eldridge Spratt, of the firm of Turner and
Sprott, of Titchbortic-street, Haymarket, was, at the desire
of Dr. Cronin, sworn. He said—We keep at our establish-
ment five preparations of bitter almonds water, viz., French,
Italian, German, Gay's strong, and Gray's weak. I car not
say what w•reld be a maximum dose of Gray's weak bitter
almonds water, but according to &rub:mine it would be two
drachms.

Mr. Manion, chemis', mid he bad seen the forms of bitter
almond water as pre scribed in Gray 's Supplement. The weak
bitter almond water would be poisonous, he thought, at the
dose of an ounce. The whole of the waters prescribed by the
foreign formula are poisonous. I have never dispensed
bitter almond water in accordance with they's Supplement.
The Coroner at this stage of the proceedings mid there
was no further evidence, and asked Dr. Cronin if he was
desirous of making any statement to the jury.
Dr. Cronin said he had the highest authorities for using
the bitter almond water in his prescription, and in support of
his statement read extracts from Dr. Chriatison's work on
Poisons, Dr. Thompson's New E liuburgh Pharmacotmeis,
Professor Brand, and the London Phurmaceutical Journal.
He declared, if physicians were to be tanned by the British
Pharmacopoeia and nothing elm, no improvement could ever
take place in the science of medicine.
The Coroner said the calamity which the jury had met to
deliberate upon, was one of a most deplorable character,
and calculated to excite the meat painful feelings in the
public mind. It was a matter of v. st importance to the me-
dical profession, as well us one which concerned the public
at large. Dr. Cronin, in the present case, appeared to
think that he had done no wrong. In that view he (the co-
roner) consider, d Dr. Cronin was not borne out by
the weight of the testimony laid before the jury. It
would be for the jury to consider, however, whether Dr.
Cronin had deviated from the ordinary course laid down by
authority or nut. It they considered be had not, then it
would be their duty to esculpate him from all blame; but
if they considered he had not exorcised proper care, and
that he had deviated from the ordinary custom in writing
this prescription, then it would be the duty of the Mrs, to
hold him culpable. They bad heard in evidence that Dr.
Cronin was a graduate of the tioiversity of Giessen. Now,
that was of no value whatever in this country,. for German
diplomas were to be bought and sold almost as cheap as any
article to be purchased an hucksters' shops. Although Dr.
I Cronin way not 9ualified to act as a phjsician, still he (the
' coroner) held him a qualified practitioner, under the 55th
of George 111., as a licentiate of the Apo*hecaries' Company.
With regard to Mr. Corfield, the jury had heard that he had
made up the prescription prec:sAy in accordance with
Dr. Croniu's prescription, with the exception of the
compound Mryclinia powder, and he (the Coroner) held
that no blame whatever attached to Mr. Corfielet ; and he
also exonerated hlr. Bell from any blame with respect to
supplying the bitter almond seater. It bad been proved by
Mr. 31oriion, who had been 30 years in his profession as a
chemist, that lie never sold the bitter almond water for in-
ternal purp.,,s, and Mr. Bell had given similar testimony.
Dr. Venabies, it was true, ha) given testimony of a different
character, but the great weight of the testimony showed that
it was not authorised by the Pharinacopiria. After referring
to the evidence of Dr. Scofiern and the either witnesses, the
coroner told the jury that if they believed the deceased had
died from the fleets of the medicine, and that it had been
prescribed without due and proper care, it would be their
duty to find a verdict of manslauahter against Mr. Cronin.
The jury retired about one o'clock to consider their ver-
dict, and during their deliberation Dr. Cronin was about to
leave the house, when Le was stopped by police-serjeant 16
8, who said he had authority to detain him, and if Le
attempted to go there were police stationed in the neigh-
bourhood to prevent him. Shortly after two o'clock the jury
returned into court, and the foreman announced that they
fount a verdict of " Manslaughter against Dennis Cronin."
The coroner then made out his warrant of committal, ar.d
Dr. Cronin was conveyed to Newgate in a cab.

lINALTII OF TOWNS AssoclATioN. The annual
general meeting of the Health of Towns' Association was
held yesterday at the rooms of the Statistical Society, St.
Jamee's.square, Lord Ashley presiding. The report, after
giving the origin and history of the association, and honour-
ably mentioning its leading, benevolent supporters, concluded
by stating, "that the sanitary question was row fairly before
the public, and that the provincial towns were beginning to
attend to it." This report was unanimsusly adopted by the
meeting. The statement of accounts was next read, and
showed that there had been received up to the present time,
for subscriptions and donations, and by the sale of publica-
tines, 6017. 12s. ; the disbursements fur printing and
other expenses, set forth, amounted to 645/. 13s. 11d., leaving
a cash balance of 611. INs. 10d. There were, however, lia-
bilities to the amount of 119/. 13s. 4d., and the outstanding
subscriptions, when paid, could leave the society shout
100/. to debt. The lteverend Mr. Murch, of Bath
(who attended as a deputation from that city),
said he received the most dreadful aocoulds of the state of
fever exi-ting in several small towns in the eastern part of
the kingdom, owing to causes which a sound and compre-
hensive sanitary measure would get rid of. Mr. Mac-
kinnon, M.P., said that he was satisfied from the answer
given by Sir George Grey to the di putation, so well as from
Lord Morpeth's reply to him (Mr. Mackinnon) in the House
of Commons, that the government contemplated the intro-
duction of one comprehmsive sanitory measure. How com-
prehensive it would be, it was not for him to say, but he be-
lieved it would include the suhjects o: drainage, ventilation,
the non-interment of the dead in towns, and consumption of
smoke. Thanks were passed by acclamation to the noble
chairman, who hriefly acknowledged the compfiment, and
the meeting separated.

•
KING'S- COLLPGE 110SPITAL.—Yesterday, at three
o'clock, the annual court of the governors end supporters of
the King's College liospi:al, which was fully attended, was
held in the board-room of the hospital, Portugal-street, to
receive the report of the past year. The Rev. Mr. Bilis,
rector of St. Clement Danes, in the chair. Mr. Lyon, the
secretary, read the report, which showed that the receipts
amounted to 3,7011. 16s. Id., which the expenditure ex-
ceeded by 6451. 144. lld. The sum of 4211. 10s. had been
added to the stock fuud, from legacies. This year, the in-
patients numbered 1,276 ; the total, last )ear, being 1,266.
There were 16.547 out-patients, exceeding those of last year
by Gl4; while 415 married women were attended in their
confinement, at their own homes.
ROYAL ORTHOP.f.DIC HOSPITAL. Yesterday a
meeting of the subscribers to this charity was held at No. 6,
Bloomsbury-square, Quarles Harris, H.q., in the chair. The
chairman taring communicated to the meeting the gratify-
ing intelligence that her Majesty had graciously consented
to favour the charity with her patronage, the report was
read, by which it appeared that the in-patients admitted in
the year 1846 were 117 ; out-patients, 1.298 ; total, 1,345 ;
being an increase of 376 over the year 1845. The total of
in-patients admitted since the opening of the charity, in
1840, were 492; ont-patients, 4,805; tutal, 5,297. The
number of in-patients in the wards on the 21st of February,
11146, was 30; the number of ditto admitted up to the 21st
of Feb., 1847 was 62; the number of ditto discharged cured,
51; discharged relieved, 11 ; number at the proem moment
in the hospital, 30 ; number of persons on the rotation list
waiting for admission' 146. The receipts from all sources
fur the year have been 2,5351. ; the expenditure, 2,32.31. ;
balance in hand, 2121. The average cost for each patient
was a guinea. The report stated that the amount of annual
subscriptions had increased, and that donations of 1001.
from the corporation of London, and of 25 guineas from
the Mercers' Company, had been recaived. The committee
recommended the raising of a fund for the building of a
larger hospital. The election of the committee, auditors,
and vice-presidents, was then proceeded with, after which
the meeting separated.
• - -

- -
ILLICIT DISTILLERT.—YePterday morning Mears.
W. Ba7ford and J. Lewins, the active officers of excise, pro-
ceeded to No. 5, Triangle-place, licnnirgton-crom, where
they knocked for a considerable time, but, no answer being
returned, they got a ladder, and gained an entrance by a
first-floor hack window. Ina lower room they found a large
copper still, capable of containing near 200 gallons, and •
quantity of fermented /Fla of malt and molasses. No person

was found on the premises, but the still bad recently been
at work. _ _ _ . _

FIRE ON TILE RIVEIL—On Tuesday night a fire
broke out on board a barge moored if the coal whippend
register-office, Lower Shadwell, in which the shovels, hss-
kets, and other working gear used in tic delivery of tho
coal-ships arc deposited. A fire had been kindled in an
bon grate on beard, and some while playing, capsized
the grate. There was a gond deal of combustible matter
in the vessel, and the flames soon burst forth. An alarm
was caisml, and a gnat number of cent-whirr: es and others
went en board and extinguished the ft Imes, rot before con-
siderable damage was done.
Fitts.—Last night, about eleven o'clock, the pre-
mises of Mr. Morgan, t, Shadwell, were dis-
covered to he en tire. An instant alarm wan :allied, and the
inmates were aroused. By that period tie lower porion of
the premises was in flames. In the space of n few minutes,
Mr. Morgan, two females, and five eitilitren appeared at the
first floor front, and were taken from the window. The
engines of the parish, London Brilsde, and West of Eng-
land Company, quickly attended, and the flames were
extinguished bcfoie -w Ore o'clock. The damage done how.
ever is considerable. The proprietor of the promises WU
insured in the amnia and Union Fire Offices.

.....
INQUEST, YEsTERDAY.—BEN OVER.—By adjourn-
moat, before Mr. Payne, at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, on
view of the body of Charles Waby Newby, aged seven years.
On Monday evening last, about six o'clock, the deceased,
who was in New Grouctster-street, went off the pavement
into the road to pick up something. At the time a cart, in
which there was one horse, procei MA out of Old Gloucester-
street at a gallop, the driver whippirg it at the same time
with some violence. The decieassl, who had no time to gat
nut of the way, was struck on the tcwple by the lore off-foot,
which knocked him down, when he was trod upon. A lady
named Goodwin, who saw the aecident, took deceased to a
surgeon. lie sous sohst quently convey, dto the above insti-
tution, where he tiled on the foaowin; day. On a post mot..
tem examination the base of the skied was found fractured,
and several of the vessels of the brain were lacerated,
which caused his deuth. Several witucuec. were examined,
who said that the horse, after the occident, went on so fiat
that no one could overtake it. The c ironer having summed
up, the jury returned a veld:et of "Manslaughter against
Edward Herring," who won committed to the Central Cri-
minal Court.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Fsa. 23.
The Mendicity Institution has contributed much to
allay the destitution of the metropolis. There is no
test : whoever applies for food obtains it without
investigation. The only restriction is, that the ap-
plicant must wink, in collie shape or other, suited to
his or her physical ability or condition. Before the
poor-law this was the great institution for relief ; and
since then, with diminished means, it continues to do
much good. At the annual meeting, yesterday,
the report stated that the committee had anticipated
the high prices, and laid in a supply of rice and
Indian meal at a rate which enabled them to feed the
poor at fifty, per cent. less than the present prices.
The statistics of the establishment show a greatly in-
creasing run on its charity.
At the meeting of the Royal Dublin Society on
Monday last, to present the sucexatful pupils with the
prizes awarded, the Lord-lieutenant and his family
attended. The secretary, Mr. Foote, delivered a long
address, in which he felicitously observed on the
patronage rendered to the society by a former Lord
Besborough. In returning thanks for his health the
Lord-lieutenant assured the society that
As the representative of his mist gracious sovereign,
he could not do anything more con genial to the feelings of
her Majesty than by directing every means—showing that
attention and giving that support to a society constituted as
that was—which it was iu his power to afford. He had an
opportunity, by their penniston upon a late ecasion' of
going over the different departments of the society, and he
was exceedingly pleased at the greet progress made by the
pupils in the venous branches of nit, the great facilities of
improving themselves which were extended to them, and it
I was hardly possible too much to appreciate the great &dean-
' tage which the youth of that conf.try must derive from an
' establishmt nt like the present ; and from what he had seen
that evening, the talent displayed, and the great utility of
the institution, he felt no doubt that the pupils would avail
' themselves of the opportunity an kindly offered to them to
enlarge their sphere of useful knowledge, and enquire infor-
mation in the several branches of serene.
•
STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
The rot* Franticier, which has arrived this afternoon, is
crowded with communicatione descriptive of the horrifying
condition of that county. In K insole, the workhouse built
to accommodate 500 contains 1,050, and an additional build-
ing has just been taken by the guardians. Of the inhabi-
tants of the town and di,f riets of Kinsale, 7,500 in number,
3,000 are dependent upon the fisheries, and 1.200 upon agri-
cultural labour. The fishermen have been prevented from
pursuing their avocations for the but two months by the
state of the weather, and these pow mon have pawned their
fishing-gear. A soup kitchen has been established in Kin-
sale, whence soup and Lend are el Lily distributed to 1,720 of
the poorest inhabitants; and the e [leers of the 35th Regt.,
stationed in the town, have opened. ma. alaiaiaha_ at their
own expense, an additional soup kitchen at the little fishing
village of Cove, near the town. At Coac'alorl the most
appalling wont appears to prevail. It is estimated that 100
families in and around that place are sick of
fever, and as many more of dysentery. At Ahabo-
loneue the condition of the people Is, if possible,
still worse. Here the parish clergyman, after acknowled3-
ing an amount of 421. to his soup kitchen, informs us that
of 6,000 souls, 4,000 are dependent for subsistence upon one
gratuitous meal in the day. The deaths have increased
20-fold, and there are iu this porch at least 900 sick. There
are communications of the same nature, not mitigated in the
least degree, from Castletownsend, Watergraasshill, Ken-
mare, in Kerry, Maeroom, and Crookhaven,in the vicinage
of the too famous &bulk At Croukhaven, a clergyman
writes that corpses lie unburied fur seven? days together,
and that they are frequently torn by pigs, and dogs and rats.
I should add that in these acemr.ts, especially in that which
refers to Coachford, much censure is cast up-n the landlords
for refusing or declining to subscribe to the relief fund—
especially those of them who are absentees. The Cork
workhouse contains 5,702 pauper', of shorn there are in
hospital 627, and externs under treatment 1,329; there
were in the past week 146 deaths.
SCOTLAND.
EDINBURGH, Fen. 23.
Pursuant to 8 and 9 Viet., cap. 38, the Scotch banks
are at present publishing lists of their shareholders,
and the publication reveals very strikingly the sta-
bility of these institutions. In some instances the
proprietary are so numerous that their names occupy
five or six columns of a newspaper, and gathered as
these names are from all quarters of the country, and
embracing every kind of rank and profession, nothing
short of national insolvency could bring them into
disrepute. Five of the Scotch trknks are chartered—
a privilege which is generally, understood (it has
never yet been tried) to limit the responsibility of
partners to the amount of their shares, but even in
them the wide distribution of risk is such as to insure
the utmost confidence. Thus, of these five, the lowest
number of partners is 222, and the highest 1,512. If
any doubt were entertained as to the stability of the
establishment having the least number of partners,
the circumstance of its dividend being 8 per cent. at
once settles that point.
The Short Time Bill will not affect Glasgow just
now. Already a number of the power-loom factory
employers have put their workers on short time—some
of them, indeed, working only during day light. The
manufacturing business is represented as being in a
more distressed state in Glasgow than it has been for
some years previous.

-
PAUPERS' ALLOWANCES IN SCOTLAND.—An unpleasant
statute for Poor-law Boards has been invoked from the dust
of the sixteenth century. The act. 1579, chap. 74, directs
that " those who neece.sairlie mon be sustained be almes be
maid content, of their owa consents, to accept daylie, to
live unheggand, and to provide qohair then remaining shall
be, be themselves or in house with others quhair the saidis
pare people may be best judged and abydr." The parochial
board of Gorbals, Glasgow, when adjudicating on the
cue of a widow and three infant children, placed them on
the roll of pauper• at 21,1. each per week; hut provided no
lodging or clothing for them, and refuel to do so when ap-
plied to. A complaint as to the inadequacy of the allowance
was made to the board of supervision ; but as that board, in
its usual way, declined to interfere, the pursuer in the
action intimated that he had procured a lodging for them,
and would hold the board liable in th, exp. nce, and inbeing
summoned before the sheriff the herd gave in. It turns
out that the excerpts from the old boots acts, which we
lately quoted from the Glasgow Citizen, arc really genuine
—it would, therefore, be well to act on them also, if ►till
in force.