Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04

denly. and the Coroner has been sent
for TO see if anyone else had hand in
the transaction.
DIR. TAYLOR is professor Of toxicology
down AT Chris. Bakers College. This
saws. i'm so many words, that he teaches
the youth of the land how they may
poison people If they want TO, and also
how 10 defeat the kindly intentions Of
any one else who wishes to do that same
thing.
And what DIR. Taylor does not know
about posons would not amount to
preface TO First Lessons for YearlinSs.
HE TALKS FREELY OF THEM.
One would think DR.. Taylor would be
A, little embarrassed TO talk about his
extensive delvings in these deadly wea-
mons. such as Prussic acid, aconlte, car
bolic acid chloroform, laudanum, arsenic,
mercury and dozens of others. but tins
is not at all the case. A representative
Of the Dispatch dropped In on the Doctor
/ little while ago, at some hour between
sunset and sunrise, no matter which one
NOW. and was talked at on the subject
Of nelson's most interestingly and .nstruc-
tiveIy. for what seemed TO be long
time.
DIR. TAYLOR said that the thing of poi
soning ones self and also other people,
mas what was now called "chesnut,"
being an old amusement. Men and Wo-
men have gone TO matinees and evening
norformancees Of it from time imme-
mortal: and something remarkable about
II was that the performance had not
improved with the lapse Of centuries.
SOCRATES AND THE HEMLOCK.
Perhaps no poisoning in ancient times
is so familiar TO the intelligent pubic
IS that of Socrates, the great phlloso-
,her who drank the cup of deadly hem
loci, inst 10 be obliging 10 the Athenan
Fathers-not because he felt the need Oh
il though Xanthippe thought he dld.
Socrates was a good man. and, indeed,
the only man in all history whom men
have even dared to speak Of In COMPARE
son with our Saviour. He was charged
Win corrupting the youth of Athens,
-eaching them vile things, was tried, con-
yicted of the offence. and sentenced to
lie He was granted the exquisite plea
n,re. however, of being his own execu-
Toner.
4 splendid description of this most re-
narkable death scene. which is only less
marvellous than that on Calyary's hill
,ccurs in Plato's Phoedo.
Socrates babe farewell to his friends,
lad the last word. for once, with Kan
thippe. drank the poison, and lay across
his couch. He tells Of the effect of the
Irug First. he felt ii in his feet They |
became numb. They were dead iirst, ne |
said Slowly the strange numbness |
rept up his legs, and thus they too, ,
lied.
.eWhen this feeling reaches my heart, !
as il will i'm a few moments, j will die 4
llso." he said calmly. And he tran
Iuilly awaited that time, which came
cry soon.
Or. Taylor corrects the very popular
Impression that hemlock, such as drunk
~ Socrates, is lost poison. He says
{ Is obtainable now, and its effect upon
he human system is just the same as
Plato wildly describes it.
LUCRETIA BORGIA.
The history Of Lucretia Borgia is, also,
lutte well-known 10 all.
In the day Of this celebrated lady.
shom some defend and even declare was
eally angelic. poisoning, as means
+ getting out of the way Objectionable
Individuals. was exceedingly fashionable
Iigh and low resorted TO 1t with most
leasing and satisfactory results. 1t
aally became a profession, open TO both
exes as the medical and drug profess
ions are beginning to be now And wo-
IAN proved beyond a doubt her ability
, stand side by side with man in skill.
xpedition. and number of victims.
A professional poisoner received GER
lin fee for an operation performed on {
n emperor, or king. and another hand
)me stipend for fixing" the Pope. The
,e became gradually smaller as one told
n the scale of dukes. earls counts,
nights, &c, until most any (old) thing
as compensation enough for the taking /
n OF one of the common herd. ;
DID HANDSOME WORK.
l. the accounts of these ATROCITIES may
2 believed, certainly some poisOns have'I !
.en lost TO our doctors. The professions /
IS of those days could aduterate the ;
ng's wine to-day, and tomorrow he I
ould lie down at noon, and gently and
veetly pass on TO the other world. No :
)dy would ever be able 10 detect any- Il
ling unusual in this Royal demise.
Dr. Taylor thinks these tales are fables, 0
Dwever. and is Inclined to believe that }
-senic was the favorite instrument emf g
Dyed. He said, too, only the Other !
ght, that he was sure II given i.adY :
orgia's victims, even now. after a lapse 4
several centuries. he could detect the
ineral II arsenic was really used.
THE KIND WOMEN USE. .
DIR. Taylor says IL is the rarest thing
the world for woman 10 commit ,