The Warwickshire Herald. — 1899-10-19 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

AMMONIA AND SUICIDY.B.  Of the number of those seeking suicide by swallowing aoine form of poison, probably there are few who have tonight to kill themselves by means of uutuuluiOtuifl. Nevertheless, ammonia, although it is the active agent in moat of the salt. Sold to women for their gilt-decorated and perfumed scent bottles, is IS/641110M when taken internally itt it concentrated form. There have been several eases where death took place in a comparatively short time after the ammonia was taken. ' There are on record, also, cases of dims (MASI/11111g from Itllllllllllla administered with intent, to e f tler. Furthermore, the op war:nice of workmen in guano faetorieswhere rum 11111 l ut is set free by grinding guano, has been ISA eli, tool ill every case there is an umnistak. able system of poisoning. This is discolouration of itio skin of the face, which assumes a blotched, dirty appearance. First to take on this appear. ance is the skin of the nose and forehead. Autopsies of those who die from ammonia reveal a dark him oil the mucous membrane lining the stomach and intestines. _ _  As an agent for causing death by slow poison. ing, ammonia is one of the most certain and most difficult. of detection, owing to its volatile nature. This quality has led physicians to believe that some of the 'oyster' deaths that have Laken place in the history of modern and in editeval crime are duo to ammonia. It is known now that months have elapsed between the first symptoms of Meknesa and the death of a person from a 11111 l onia poisoning. On the other death litut resulted in four minutes from the Hine a large draught of ammonia ham been swallowed. IL lots been foued in cases of gradual absorpt ien of omuummuitnjut in the human system, thnt there is a general elimination of healthy oxidation of the blood, and a constant lowering of the bodily strength. In the cases of immediate poisoning, death conies with frightful! agony. MINI gushes from the nose and mouth. Statistics in England put ammonia thirteenth in frequency in the list of poisons. Dr. Alex:older Winter Myth cites thirty cases of poisoning by ammonia, swallowed for the purpose of committing soicide, or administered with the purpose of committing morder, or absorbed unconsciously ill food. Of the smuiejdll cases six were fatal. Of t wenty accidental cases twelve were fatal. CY cases of der with Dr. Blvth notes two, both of them children.  A little half-timer named Edward Murphy, employed in a Rawtenstall mill, was placing a bet in the hoist when he slipped forward. The hoist suddenly ascended, and pinned him by the neck. It was a quarter of an hour before be could be released, when he was quite dead. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman has indefinitely postponed his engagement to deliver a political address in Glasgow on October 24th. The assembling of Parliament is the reason assigned. At Donca.ter, lazuL..e.u, a married woman, was charged with neglecting two children. The police found a delicate girl perishing with cold, having on only a thin frock and no undergarments. Both children were in an extremely emaciated con. dition. The prisoner, who complained that she dia not receive sufficient money from her husband, was seat to prison for one month.  ri 57(474 laorre Lauda Owital L 05406