The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-19 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-It does appear to us of the first importance to the
world generally to ascertain whether poisons, 'such as
prussic acid, arsenic, &c., &c., have been introduced
by doctors with the bona fide view to the cure of dis-
ease, or for the purpose of making a trade of medicine.
Your readers vs ill bear in mind that of all the schemes that
could have been devised in order to create a monopoly in
medicine, that of doctors declaring to a confiding public that
such poisons. as above mentioned were medicines fit and pro-
per for the cure of diseases when advised by them, was the most
effectual. Hear the following passage given in evidence on
Tawell's trial. It forms part of Mr. Champney's cross-exami-
nation by Mr. Kelly:—" The smallest dose which is reported
to have caused deal h was the case of seven patients in one of
our hospitals ; a dose of 7-10ths of a grain was given to each
patient, and they all died in from 30 minutes to three-quarters
of an hour." Here is a pretty specimen of the manner in
which poor patients are experimented upon in the hospitals.
We ask, is it not disgraceful? But why, after such expe-
rience of the deadly character of prussic acid, do our doctors
still hold it out to the world as a medicine when " medici-
nally" administered by them, as they call it, which means
after the fee has been paid for " advice." We feel satisfied
that thousands are annually sent to their graves by such
poisons in the hands of inexperienced medical practitioners.
The more experienced know, perhaps, how to give them in
doses not to kill at once, but as to their being a cure for
any disease, it is, we feel assured, perfectly untrue. Is there
not a noble-minded Member of the Legislature to be found
who will step in and prevent the havoc which is made in
human life by these poisons, administered " medicinally,"
by calling for a full investigation of the sub-
ject? Wicked persons (as in Tawell's case), when
such poisons are found upon them, say, " Oh, I take them
medicinally' by the advice of my doctor," and produce a pre-
scription to that effect, thus at once in a great measure setting
justice at defiance. We repeat, let there be a full inquiry into
this grave and important question—We are, Sir, your
obedient servants,

MORISON and MOAT,
For, and on behalf of, the body of Hygeisk.
British College of Health, New-road,
London, March 17, 1845.

. The reasons why doctors hold out to the public poisons as
medicines, are made more palpable by the two prints showing
the fallacy of the organic theory under all its forms. To be
had of all the Hygeian agents, price 6d, or Is. coloured. No
person who cares for his health should be without these prints.

NEW WORK, BY EUGENE SUE.—The great po-
pularity of " The Mysteries of Paris" has made M.
Eugene Sue's name familiar to all English novel readers;
and his fame will be, doubtless, greatly extended by
the appearance of his historical romance, entitled " De
Itohan ; or, The Court Conspirator," an English edition
of which, in three volumes, has just been published by
Mr. Colburn. The Court of Louis XIV. has become
proverbial for magnificence and political intrigue, and
M. Sue could, therefore, have scarcely selected a better
subject than the very attractive one of which he has
made choice. The groundwork of his story may bc
found in the details of the remarkable conspiracy in
which the Chevalier De Itohan—the handsomest man
and most extravagant prodigal in a Court where beauty
and extravagance were the best recommendation—lost
his life. The prominent characters are Louis XIV.,
his beautiful mistress, De Montespan, and most of the
great Officers of State—the partisan Latr‘aumont—the
philosopher Vanden Euden, and a great number of other
well•known personages, who were either concerned in
the conspiracy or held office under the Sovereign. The
work affords the most lively picture that has ever been
published, not only of the Court of France at this
eventful period, but of the state of the kingdom, and will
be looked upon as one of the most romantic narratives
that ever came into the hands of the novel reader.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY.—The nomination of
candidates for the office of Librarian in this University, is
fixed for the 2d of April, and the election will take place on
the 3d. The name of Mr. John M. Kemble, the celebrated
Anglo-Saxon scholar, has, we find, been accidentally omitted
from the list already published.