THE MARQUESS OF WESTMEATHwished to be informed whether in was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce a Bill next Session for regulating the sale of poisons? The necessity for such a measure had been proved by a case which unfortunately came recently within his own knowledge. The child of one of his relations was poisoned last summer by medicine that was sent from a chemist's shop at Weymouth. The medicine was sold by a boy who was too young to be an apprentice, and the only other person in the shop at the time of the sale was a boy of fourteen years of age. The chemist had left his shop in charge of those two boys. Unfortunately the mother herself administered the dreadful dose to her own child. A long investigation took place before a coroner's jury, and a verdict of manslaughter was returned against the two boys. Bills were sent before the grand jury against them, but these bills were ignored. He did not mean to throw any blame on the grand jury, or on the law officers of the Crown, but he referred to this particular case as illustrating the careless manner in which drugs were frequently dispensed by persons wholly ignorant of their nature. He thought there could be no doubt that the safety of the public positively required that some legislative measures should be passed on the subject. Since the bills were thrown out the chemist in question had inserted an advertisement in the newspapers, to the effect that his establishment was excellently managed and would continue to give every satisfaction to the public. He (the Marquess of Westmeath) was sure that his noble and learned Friend on the woolsack would admit that an end ought to be put to the administration of medicine by incompetent and irresponsible persons.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, the subject had been under the consideration of the Government, but it was almost as difficult a one as could be required to be 2447 dealt with. It must be admitted that many grievous accidents had occurred through the ignorance of persons employed in dispensing; but, on the other hand, he was afraid that an enumeration of poisonous articles sold in chemists' shops, with the view of preventing their being improperly bought or administered, would rather arrest the attention of such persons as desired to administer deadly poisons than tend to the decrease of unfortunate cases such as that at Weymouth. Difficult, however, as the subject was, the Government were engaged in considering it, and if it were possible they would introduce a Bill with regard to it; but he could not give any pledge. It had been suggested that chemists should be compelled to take out licences for the sale of drugs; but that would be a poor remedy, for, whatever directions might be given as to their sale, chemists would occasionally leave their shops in the management of persons incapable of attending properly to its business. It was impossible for the Legislature to provide against all cases of carelessness in the sale of drugs.
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEsuggested the desirableness of adopting in this country the practice which prevailed in Russia as to the sale of poisons, and which was this—a chemist or private individual who had poison in his possession was obliged to keep it enveloped in a paper of a certain colour, and was heavily fined if he neglected to do so.