New-York tribune., 1871-07-25
THE POISONING MANIA.

10 fhe E0f0r or Thc Trtbune.
SIR: According to philosophers who have an
ofhandway OF referring all sensations 20 the perodcity
of phenomena tho world has entered cycle OF pois-
oniug mania. Whether this :. not people may take
pains 10 avoid any exraunatic OF poisoning. In
the present careless In which they treat nOxious
agents. it is a wonder that not poisoned than
we hear Of Arsenic tartar emetic and sTycbnne,
bought In paper packages and left loose closet Shelves
In medicine boxes with harmless substances; and
what Ia easy than for few grains OF poison to sif
ont at corner, or to lie conveyed by vcrmn from
place to another and mix with foodi Poisonous salts
cOoers and pipes. and in vessels tanks painted with
white lead or haryta somo of which in their action
very hkely To he mistaken for common poisOns. Scr
tiny IN az eases OF supposed poisoning should be made
paAt from waterpaii may go into kitchen boiler, and
thence into srups decOctOus, and presto mischief
4. bottled up for months and years come. All poons
aLelcd in large eticfs Zinc watr Vessels must he
coated inside with asphalt yarnisb and lead pipes with
lnsoluble euiphlei Willie water ana milk pals should
have the part taken of with hot ye be painted with
THE Older rrow' SAID a man Of tho world, whose
opinions were nsed with no idotic philanthropy the
Of mercy ana not OF suspicon II is time 10 recall iust
such max in the face of like those Of the two
strange passion for finding its victims gGlty VIXEN sns
pci0n once hounds Them Ii Is well nigh impossible for
the most rightly lv-balanCod mind TO view the simplest
acts iudically when base motive has once been
signed tEe ana thus the Innocent arc most likely to
their acts unconscious of them II Is only when
has been place. face with damnne accusation OF
which lac utterly guitles3 that the awful power of
circumstances DE realized. Acts, forgotten and aim
less u. the time, recalled and move upon tie victim
like the terrible walls of the InquisOn which closed
upon their prey inch by inch to utter donoAtiOn.
And opinion, In homes and soei:h cir
cles, is infinitely more cruel than the
verdict OF the judgment seat, though one
might suppose that those to whom no charge OF public
welfare Is oOnded might bo mercul and spang Of con-
GemnaOn. What II, through mercy, one faulty person
allowed TO pass the verdict Not proven g.
thousand concealed murders committed every
decade and will be, Syi.e OF Tia" --' oeSt
YET the t"'.'.sioIs OF society do not rock as 40
pi-Id % do when the law sets free oue doubtfully
accused person But If innocent Is found guilty,
society commits Ider most foul aud blood l. ON the
head OF Of The best Judges feel the weight
OF popular sentiment and the oppressive force increases
bJ cuLes with every who uteT5 opinion. Such an
appalling view or responsibility needs to be urged on the
public hat It may draw back decently when disposed to
press the accused the brink OF DOOM People seize
side OF stOrY-generay the first heard-and de-
fand 1t with an unreasoning tenaclty which converts
every demons ration the opposite side into proof or
guilt. Aud when evidence Is most ddmnng, IL Is not 100
lae reiuomDor that the innocent ever least pre-
pared To resist conviction while guilt looks ahead and
prepares its and Justification. Ut Is proof Of
Wisc sane and c mind that Il refuses to condemn TIL
the last evidence is forced upon It, and then passes dg
Ment with infinite /, gret. Yours, ). Z. ID. l..
Ncc- Y0ri, July -, lS7l