The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-13

4 of poisons or connections thereof X
K to minors. X
4 Coroner's Jury verdict and rec X
4 ommendation at the inquest over X
4 the body of Mrs. K. Yamashita. X
4
X
A startling phase in the sale of drugs
in Honolulu was ELECTED from a druggist
yesterday afternoon during the inquest
over Mrs. K Yamashita. the Japanese
woman who killed herself by taking ant
poison on Tuesday. because of a domestic
quarrel. The druggist, who compounds
prescriptions in one of the largest drug
stores in the city, states that Amt
Poison as sold under that name is not
restricted in sale according TO the regu-
Iations of the Board of Health, and no
sale of it is even recorded on the firms
books.
Ant poison is composed of ingredients.
the larger portion of which is corrosive
sublimate, a subtle poison, and in small
quantities will kill human beings. Cor
rosive sublimate is known to the drug
gists as a poison. and on no account
would they sell the plain drug to. any one
except upon a prescription from physi-
clan. "A rose by any other name would
smell as sweet yet bottles labelled Amt
Poison are sold Unfortunately out of
the drug stores regardless of conse-
quences.
Ina regulation passed by the Board of
Health on June 1, 1899, the restriction on
the sale of drugs reads as follows:
THE following drugs and chemicals
shall be held to constitute a poison or
Lf, n,atT1 nF hon Ser
IS of the Penal Laws. Schedule A con-
tains list of poisons, which are not
to be sold except upon the prescription
or order of a duly licensed practitioner
of medicine.')
Schedule B, Drugs and Medicines.
which are only to be sold TO responsible
parties and when properly labelled
Poison and of the sale of which an en-
try has been made of the quantity sold.
name of the purchaser, purpose for which
to be used. and by whom, in a book reg
ularly kept for that purpose. In this
list appears corrosive sublimate.)
Prof E C. Shorey, chemist of the
Board of Health, who made an analysts
of the contents of the stomach and liver
of Mrs. Yamashita. says that the bottle
which contained the ANT Poison" had
enough corrosive sublimate to have killed
half a dozen or more persons. In one
sixth of the liver of Mrs. Yamashita he
found one and half grains of corrosive
sublimate, enough to have caused her
death.
The so-called ANT Poison" and label
led as such, is in reality nothing more
nor less than the most deadly of poisons
with solution of oil of cloves to precipi-
tate it. The mere fact that it is labelled
ant poison does not take away the man
killing nature Of the drug
Druggist Myers, who is a prescription
ist at Benson. Smiths drug store, stated
yesterday that he considered ant poison
deadly to human beings, but being la
belled ANT Poison" ne thought it could
be sold indiscriminately.
He also stated that he was not in the
habit Of making entries of sales of tant
poison or of making himself acquafnt-
ed with the identity of the purchaser
He states that so many sales are made
of the amt poison" that he does not
even remember TO whom he sold it.
The inquest was held by Deputy Sheriff
| Chillingworth before the following jury
| VIM. Mott, Fred Weed, z. Paris, E. E.
Mossman. H. C. Vida and B. Bowers.
| DR.. Shorey testified to the analysis
| made of the contents of the stomach and
| liver of the deceased woman. DR. Pratt
| testified TO having performed the autop-
| sy.
| Druggist Myers in reply 10 a question
as to the sale of the ant poison said it
was simply sold as ''ant poison" and not
as corrosive sublimate.
| We do not keep any records of sales
/ of the ant poison" said he I don't
know why. Personally I have never
made any record Of It.
I Are you not aware that it is a poison
and according to the statute must be
/ recorded and the names of purchasers
placed on record2' inquired the Coroner.
There Is a rule TO that effect" replied
| the druggist. For instance, If anybody
would buy corrosive suhlimate. it would
I be recorded"
| II arsenic was sold as Sure To-Kill
it would not be recorder"
I'VE don't regard rat poison or ant
poison as such
You are aware that it is corrosive
sublimate sold practically as ant poison %
Yes"
The japanese boy to whom was sold
| the ant poison" was brought before the
jury. He identified Mr.. Myers as the one
who had sold him the poison
DO you recoIlect this boy as the one
/ to whom you sold the poison-last Tues
day?"
I do not.
Are the employees of Benson. Smith
| & Co. in the habit Of selling any poison
or other drugs in which corrosive SUBJ
Innate is used. to minors?''
/ We'll, I can't speak for the other en-
ployees. For myself if boy called for
any poison other than ant poison. he
would not get it,
| Why is it you would sell him ant
/ poison and not another poison %
Well. ant poison is put UP in such a
1 hot II fs &c -od
/ and labelled ant poison, and I do not
therefore record it,
Suppose the label amt poison should
be torn of this compound and an ana