The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-04 00:00:00

been already granted for the furtherance of the
project—the line to Alexandria---passing through
the Dardanelles—alone receiving 50,000/. per
annum, besides other privileges. The shares
a!ready command 10 premium. A. matter quite
sufficient to direct the eyes of Englia i capitalists
in the desired direction.

It is needless to say that this is a palpable vio-
lation of the Treaty so improvidently concluded
last April. Some of the projected lines could not
by any possibility pay the mere working expenses,
to say nothing of a dividend on the capital in-
vested therein, nor is there any legitimate object
that could induce the CZAR to pay such enormous
subsidies to the shareholders. It is manifestly an
ingenious device to procure vessels that can be
converted at a brief notice into an effective navy
that could more than match the limited force
allowed to the Allied Powers.

This decided effort to counteract, or rather to
break through, the Treaty so recently entered into,
should be promptly and decidedly met. That
which could not be directly done should not be
tolerated in an underhand manner. Russia is
striving to procure English and French capital
to construct long lines of military railways.
She is now endeavouring to procure a
Black Sea Fleet in the same manner, and it is
surely time that the Governments, which have al-
ready submitted to such enormous sacrifices to
check her aggressive propensities, should interfere
before they are made " laughing-stocks" in the
eyes of Europe. A determined attitude, in the
first instance, will be all that is required, and it
will save a much greater expenditure in the long
run.

The numerous cases of poisoning, intentionally
or by mistake, which have recently attracted
public attention, lead to the inquiry whether the
Legislature may not interpose regulations on the
sale of poisons, in order to the protection of the
community. The subject is one of great import-
ance, and to be dealt with effectually must not be
approached under the influence of panic, nor
without due consideration of the many difficulties
connected with it. Sweeping measures are gene-
rally ineffective or injurious measures, and no in-
terference with the freedom of trade can nowa-
days, with any show of propriety, be permitted,
31 less it can be clearly demonstrated that the
pu pose is so sacred as imperatively to call for it,
and such interference is likely to accomplish that
purpose to some appreciable extent. Moreover, it
must extend no further than is absolutely neces-
sary, and in doing away with or diminishing one
source of danger another, or others, must not be
produced of an equal or superior magnitude.
At the outset, it must further be remarked, no
legislation whatever can possibly prevent access to
mineral poisons by a large class of the community
—such poisons being largely used in the arts, and
to a less extent by the agricultural community ;
besides which, it may be asked, where is the house
without its copper utensil ? Neither can any
legislation prevent access to vegetable poisons,
which are of British growth. Further, no legis-
lation can protect the suffering patient wholly from
accidents in tip preparation and administration
of drugs, to ,may nothing of errors of judgment
and design, so long as human nature continues as
it is. And here we cannot refrain from advert-
ing to what most painfully struck us in connection
with the case of PALMER, via., the startling proof
the evidence afforded of his adoption of a subtle

And deadly policy, to which a regard for the pub•
tic prevents us from further alluding than by
saying the exhibition of strychnine was, in all
probability, the result of impatience, and foreign
to his original design. We all knaw how his
brother died ; and if PALMER. sought his death,
the difference of means was not identical with a,
difference of principle in the adoption of them.
We advert to the case only as one proof of the
'impossibility to which we have already adverted,
viz., of securing immunity from poisoning for the
public.

The propriety of moderation in dealing with

the subject being thus plaiuly indicated, we come
to a consideration of ale poisons against which a
special guard would seem to be required. These
are of au active class, and, as the reader
is aware, include the following—arsenic, cor-
rosive sublimate, tartar emetic, prussic acid,
opium, nui vomica, hellebore, &c., and prepara-
tions from them, such as black drop, laudanum,
morphia, strychnia, veratria, &c. Arsenic is used
;n solution for rheumatism, for the destruction of
bugs, and by farmers for steeping their wheat, to

preserve it from the worm, during gormination,
is well as by others, for purposes of art, as bird-
stuffing, and colour making. It is also wed in
farriery, and for poisoning vermin. C)rrosive
sublimate is a favourite renecly in certain cases,
And is largely employed in the preservation of
wood, &c. Tartar emetic is used as au emetic,
And can better be depended on tha's
for a speedy evacuation of he c mteuts of .the
stomach. Opium is largely used in bulk—the
pantities taken by individuals iu Lincolusliire

would hardly 'se credit,..d, and to those 'who are
vidieted to its use the supply is almost essential
to existence. Laudanum is recognised as a valu-
able household drug, of great and immediate ser-
vice in many cases. Nux vomica is used for poi-
soning rats, hellebore for diseases of the skin in
dogs. As for prussic acid, morphia, and
drubs of such intensely poisonous nature,-
the use of them is almost exclusively
c mfined, as it should be altogether, to
the medical profession and di aggists, who ap-
portion the doses taken by the patient. For the
sale of these, in bully, to private individuals,
there can be neither necessity nor excuse, and it
should be prohibited under penalty.
The parties who sell poisons are manufacturers
and wholesale druggists, apothecaries, chemists
►nd druggists, and grocers, and other dealers,
who sell drags. The way in which drugs have
fallen into the hands of the latter has been partly

the want of druggists in
particular localities—
we know many villages whore there is no druggist
—and partly the excessive profits demanded on
the sale of drugs of a harmless description and in
general request, just as the expense of medical
attendance has led to advice and medicines being
given by the druggist. The question for con-
sideration now is—What ought to be done ? Tito
sale of poisons must-go on. Prohibition is out
of the question. Shall none be permittc :1 to sell
any drugs or chemicals of this character but
members of Apothecaries' Rall and of the Piar-
maceutical Society ? To say nothing of the ab-
surdity and intolerable t 3 eanny involvc 1 in such
a measure, we have surely had enough of moni -
poly—even here the public having, in :,'l proba-
bility, paid more, in life and health., became of
the practical monopoly, which non. of late y„ i•fl
was enjoyed by the apothecary a 3,1 drufsgiA, than
there is the least chance of their doing by acci-
-1 dental or designed poisoning. I is quite r 4 bad
to die for want of drugs you have not the meris
to purchase as by drugs you have ; and the pub';c
must look to it, or the hubbaboo about poisons
will lead to the establishment of a monopoly for
which they will be severely mulcte!. What,
then, can be done? the reader may somewhat
anxiously inquire. A thoughtful consideration