The Sun. — 1865-07-18 (London, England)

UNINTENTIONAL INFANTICIDE.—Mr. John Simon, medical officer of the Privy Council, in his evidence before the Select Committee on the Chemists and Druggists' Bills, mentioned some startling facts as to the unintentional destruction of infant life, by opium. "There aro some country districts of England," he said, "whore child killing by opium is monstrous. Every ono knows that in some of the manufacturing districts, where mothers are employed and children are neglected, the mortality of infants is twice or thrice what one would call the nominal rate of dying, and that a considerable share of this undue mortality is caused by dosing with preparations of opium. But it is not equally well known that in certain country districts the same amount of mortality -of infants is to be observed; and when the particulars of this are inquired into, it appears that the conditions are very similar to those which operate in the manufacturing districts, and that even a greater proportion of the mortality is oaused by the domestic administration of opium." " I should not like you," Mr. Simon continued, " to suppose that I think much of it is intentional. Ido not think that, but there is a carelessness as to the result that is hideous. On this subject the committee would find the facts given in my last annual report, and especially with reference to the marsh districts of England. The women work in gangs, and travel about the country, leading often a very reckless and rollicking life, leaving their children a great deal to chance as they travel about. The children fare very badly, as the children do in manufacturing towns. To be kept quiet they aro drugged with opium. The peasantry have a tradition that opium is useful in their ague, and hare got so familiar with it that many of the adults Having this local knowledge of opium, children very largely, the • heinldrcuemnbdraynineeg The children ya'rehea monstrously. The mothers (namely, the agricultural gang-women) appear often to b very reckless whether the children live or die. to them." talrieeyopuiuP,am-iet/eors..  ATTEMPTED MURDER AT WARWICK .—Yesterday, at the Warwick Borough Police Court, George London was charged with attempting to murder William Coates, by shooting at him with a gun. Between twolve and one o'clock on Sunday morning, the prisoner, who does not bear a very good character, went to a house in Mountstreet, where be knew Coates was, and said that he would shoot him if he came out. Coates went out, and the pridsoennetiarl instantlyly Coates dischargedtu rned sideways, loadedaand the greater portion of the charge entered the door and walls, but several of the gun at him. Providentially shots lodged in the man's shoulder, inflicting a serious wound. The prisoner then decamped, but was apprehended shortly afterwards in bed. A quantity of percussion caps, powder, and shot were found upon him; and an open knife was laid on the bed by his side. He did not make any (Welke, and was remanded for the attendance of the injured man. Jealousy of a woman with whom he has for years cohabited, and who has recently shown a preference for Coates, is assumed to be the cause of the ill  feeling.