The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-11
This man does. Compare the
two pictures.

bitter opponents of what they call the
tyranny of King Alcohol, who do not hest
tate to resort to the use of morphine, not
only as panacea for trif1ing pain but
as an exhilarant to enable them to I'M
dergo social duties
PRUssIC ACID.
The famous acid which has PLAYED so
conspicuous part in history and fiction
is by far the quickest in its action of any
known poison. How long it was before
death came to the relief of one sufferer in
the two recent cases in this city is I'M
known, but in the other instance theman
died in less than two minutes after swal-
lowing the poison This is, perhaps, the
usual length of time between the dose and
its fatal result, the longest known period
elapsing between the act of swallowing
and death being fifteen minutes. So fear
fully rapid lis the action of this agent
that, although there are several
known antidotes, no time is allowed
for their use; the most that the
Mortified lookef-on can do is to determine,
the cause of death by the odor of
bitter almonds peculiar to this acid. In
very minute quantities it is found in sew
eral substances: to it cherry laurel water
owes its favor; it is found in large pro-
portions in the oil of almonds and in peach
kernels. The acid itself is not very easily
obtained, for most druggists do not keep
it, but two compounds, into which it
enters as factor, may be had anywhere
The cyanides Of silver and potassium are
both of common employment the former
being extensively used by photographers
in their business; the latter, in spite
of its dangerous character, is fire.
quently kept in households to remove
stains from linen. Either is as deadly
as the prussic acid in pure state,
and either will be sold without any in
quiry as to the use intended to be made
of it. Tobacco is not usually considered
poison, but nicotine, its active principle,
is swiftly and certainly fatal, producing
in an exaggerated form all the symptoms
of tobacco-nausea, followed by great
weakness, trembling ,perspiratiOn, spasms
commissions and death. Aconite. the ac-
tive principle Of the monk s hood or VOLTS
bane, a well-known flower, is sharp
poison, but nevertheless finds a place in
the little chest OF homeopathic walls with
which many people treat themselves and
their families.
A few drops of the remedy, presumably
so beneficial in the form of minute pills.
will produce almost instant death Arnica
too, a well-known remedy for sprains and
bruises, is of deadly nature, producing
burning pain in the mouth, throat and
stomach, vomiting, general depression and
death from collapse; while COMA, the
active principle of the hemlock. easily
procured and of value when used medicin-
ally, is very powerful narcotic poison
even minute doses producing paralysis of
the extremities, asphyxia, and convul-
sions, which are relieved only by death.
DANGEROUS ACIDS.
Besides prussic acid several of the other
stronger acids are extremely deadly in
their effects when taken internally
Nitric, sulphuric and muriatic acids cor
rode, discolor and utterly destroy every
tissue they touch, and even a moderate
dose of either one is almost certain TO
result fatally
Among suicides and prisoners, how
ever, they are not in favor, as they cause
intense pain and a lingering, agonizing
death. The ordinary carbolic acid of
commerce is also a burning poison, caus-
ing acute suffering and producing death
by destruction of the tissues. Oxalic
acid, known in many households as salts
Of lemon, is, like the others, a sharp
poison, having the same general symptoms
and effect. Besides these, which are
easily obtained in any drug store without
the least difficulty, there are many sub
stances in almost daily household use by
which life may be taken. A modern dose
of common concentrated I've, or of eaustic
soda, or caustic potash, of hartshorn or
cantharides, the ordinary Spanish f1y
used for raising blisters, win cause death.
the last named being almost as deadly as