Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-24

mercial principle that few patents are wortl
 more than three years purchase of the re
 ceipts arising from them, the nation mus
 bear the loss. If the courts sustain the Gov
 ernmenes view and sanction tax upon tele
 phones, relief would doubtless be given by
 Parliament, for a tax upon telephones would
 be a tax upon knowledge, and such tax be-
 longs to the past rather than to the present ol
 future.
 A recent occurrence in Boston again calls
 attention to danger which is always with us
 A druggist of that city had prescription oi
 three ingredients, consisting of simple herbs
 to prepare. but finding he was out of s'humu Ii, substituted, as he supposed, t'hamamels, which is spelled somewhat similarly, but which proved to be aconite, and for another herb substituted something else he happened to have on hand, so that out of the three in gredients, he got only one right. The result was that the lady for whom the medicine was compounded was terribly poisoned, and three physicians worked whole day before feeling assured that her life was out of danger. So many cases of this kind have occurred that very careful people take pains to inform them selves as to the knowledge and qualifications of their druggist, but it often occurs that a prescription must be had in hurry, and the nearest apothecary is sought, on the presump- tion that he ought to know his business. Sometimes he or the clerk in charge does not, and then confiding person is injured and in some cases killed. A bill before the Legisla ture of this State last winter provided that druggists and druggists clerks should have a they were permitted to take the lives of the people into their hands. Unfortunately it did not pass. That UT some other bill with the same purpose should be passed.
 The course taken by MT. Parnell in this country has undoubtedly deprived the suffer CTS in Ireland of much help which would have been freely given had he shown more wis dom. But the Irish people are in real need, and Mir. Parnells error should not be laid to their account or suffered to ipjure them. Those who are willing and able to contribute can send their money to Messrs. Drexel, Nor gan Co., bankers, of New York. who have already sent over $6, 900 which has been col lected to Ireland. Mrs. General w. T. Sher- man, Washington, D. C., is collecting funds, which she will forward to trustworthy agents in Ireland. The Duchess of Marlborough has collected large fund, to which the Queen and the English aristocracy have contributed. The Lord Mayor of London is prepared to receive and to forward funds. A meeting at the Mansion House, Dublin, in which the higher clergy of Ireland and many members of Par hament participated, has issued an appeal to the country. It will distribute it's receipts through local committees, including clergy men and members of the local government boards. The address of the body is: 'sThe Dublin Mansion House Relief Fund, the Right Honorable E. Dwyer Gray, M. P, Lord Mayor, Dublin, Ireland" The home-rule members of Parliament are also moving. The Dublin Mansion House fund includes all Irish and will administer it's funds largely through clergymen of all sects, and is entitled to confidence.