The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-11-14
accidents from Firearms - n Sea-
SOn0bLe Warming to Gu11neTS.

Correspondence OF the - sun"
Having recently visited terrible case of fatal
injury by the incautious handling of a towling-
piece, | have determined to carry out purpose,
long contemplated but too long neglected, OF
giving a caution, Justified by long experience,
in regard to the imprudent of bird guns.
suppose that in fifty years extensive surgical
practice have seen more than two hundred cases
of death or mutlation from the incauious use of
bird guns, one occurring in my own family -
These accidents are tea fold more numerous than
they were when the old hnt-lock was in use and
in almost every cese attributable to the practice
OF allowing the hammer, when he gun is loaded,
to rest on the cap. If the spring Of the lock be
strong one it presses with almost force enough
to fire the cap without any shock, especially when
the gun is heated by repeated firing. If the gun
be Jared in any manner the cap is percussed and
the gun fires II the breach Of the gun he bought
suddenly to the ground, il is fred bA the shock,
and the muZzle is then presented toward the BODY
OF the sufferer have known in several instances
the gunner, in climbing over fence, to swing
his gun over and strike the ground with the
breech, firing the gun by the shock and blowing
his hand to pieces.
In many instances have known the gun TO be
fired and the right hand to be destroyed by ram
ming down charge in one barrel when the other
was loaded, the shock of the hammer being suf-
icient to percuss the cap when the gun is heated.
Many will remember the case of respectable
gentleman of this city who lost his right hand
not long since in this manner. This is an argu-
ment in favor OF single-barrels, also Of breech-
| leaders.
| If gun be leaned against WALL table or chair,
and it slips and falls, the hammer being attached
| to the heaviest part of the gun, will turn and
stike the aoor firing the gun, as in the case that
| | have just come from seeing.
hos L inSf fpt al inu "
to a person carrying gun on his shoulder, safely
| enough, one would think but be let's go his gun
for an instant to use his hand for some other pur
pose, the gun slips forward, revolving aS it falls,
and strikes the ground with the hammer, the gun
! firing invariably toward the body
| The dangerous practice OF using pocket pistols
is the cause OF many death have known "
| person 10 have pistol fatally fred in his pocket
by person playfuly throwing pebble nj him
| ! have known another instance in which the pts
tol was fired by the heat OF Il fire before which
the sufferer was sitting another in which pis
toll was fired by dropping on he floor from the
| pocket of gentleman, aud sending The bullet
| through his loot.
But the most common and ta;al injury observed
| in my practice has been caused by the gunner
passing through thickct or :ence, seizing the
muzzle of the gun and dragging it through after
him. twig or "a rail of the fence touches the
| hammer, raises IT, ana letS IL SIP win iorct
enough to fire the cap am well aware that q
very important Improvement has been made IN
gunlocks, which does not allow the hammer tc
rest on the cap But this does not wholly obv
ate the danger, are they in general use, a:
they should be-
If the following rules strictly observed
accidents from firearms would scarcely ever occur
First never cap the gun till you are in the field
second never allow the gun to point toward
yourself or anyone else; third, never bring home
a loaded piece; fourth, never allow the hammer
to rest on the cap; fifth. never shoot, especial,
with boys; and finally, never keep loaded gnr
in your house. There is more danger from i
| than from robbers.
If editors would at every shooting season pub
lish caution in regard to the use OF bird gum
they would save many lives. They would b'
well paid by the consciousness of doing good
which believe is motive which operates will
most of them. s.