§ MR. MACDONAI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that since February, 1892, to November, 1893, there have been 230 deaths due to the taking of carbolic acid, 174 of which were suicidal and 56 accidental; whether, in view of the alarming increase of suicides from the fact of carbolic acid being sold in retail so cheaply, the Government will place carbolic acid under the Pharmacy Act, and only allow it to be sold by chemists in such small quantities as is the case of arsenic and prussic acid, &c, so that there may be greater restrictions placed upon its sale in small quantities; whether, with a view of bringing public attention to bear upon this matter, he will instruct coroners in certifying the cause of suicides to certify the name of the poison which caused the suicidal or accidental death in each case; and whether he will order a Return of the number of deaths caused by carbolic acid during the last five years to be placed upon the Table of the House?
SIR W. FOSTERI have no information as to the number of deaths due to the taking of carbolic acid between February, 1892, and November, 1893, except that which the hon. Member has been good enough to furnish. The Local Government Board have no jurisdiction with regard to the articles which are to be deemed poisons for the purpose of the Pharmacy Act, 1868. Additions to the articles specified in the Schedule may from time to time be made by resolution of the Pharmaceutical Society, with the approval of the Privy Council, and the 1701 Board will bring the matter under the attention of that Society. The Board have no jurisdiction with regard to coroners, and are not empowered to issue any such instructions as the hon. Member suggests. As regards the Return, I have been in communication with the Registrar General, and I understand that the particulars cannot at present he furnished for a later period than 1891. If the hon. Member moves for a Return for the five years from 1887 to 1891 it will be granted.