Poison

POISON. There is no official legal definition of the meaning of the word "poison" though from the phraseology of the sections in the various laws relating to poisoning it may readily be inferred what is understood by the term "poison" in its legal aspects.

The legal sections relating to criminal poisoning contain the expressions "poison or other destructive thing," "poison or other destructive or noxious thing," "to inflict upon such person grievous bodily harm," "any chloroform, laudanum or other stupefying or overpowering drug, matter or thing." These phrases all occur in the sections where the crime for wilful intent in "unlawfully administering" is regarded as felony. In the section dealing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy any person the expression "poison or other destructive or noxious thing" is used and the offence is regarded as misdemeanour.

In the section dealing with criminal abortion the term "poison or other noxious thing" is used, and the unlawful administration of such with intent to procure a miscarriage is regarded as felony.

The term "noxious thing" has been held to include all substances causing symptoms which might be dangerous to life, or symptoms giving rise to pain, serious discomfort or incapacity. In the case of abortion it includes all substances which might under the cir cumstances in which they were administered reasonably give rise to any risk of abortion.

The sale of "poisons" to the public is carefully controlled by law, and the danger to human life from the indiscriminate sale of poisons by unqualified persons is thereby reduced.

With certain exceptions only duly qualified and registered phar macists and medical practitioners are permitted to sell poisons.

convenient and comprehensive definition of the word "poison" is "A substance which by its direct action on the mucous membrane, tissues, or skin, or after absorption into the circulatory system can, in the way in which it is administered, injuriously affect health or destroy life." This definition includes

such substances as powdered glass, metallic filings, etc., which would act mechanically as irritants if swallowed. It also includes substances which are ordinarily of a harmless nature but by nature of the excessive quantity, or of their physical condition or manner of administration may act injuriously on the body, for example, water at the boiling temperature or milk given intra muscularly or intravenously would be included.

The commonly understood definition of a poison would be a substance which if taken internally in small doses is capable of acting deleteriously on the body or of destroying life.

Poisoning

may be accidental, suicidal or homicidal. By far the commonest type of poisoning is that due to accidental causes. In spite of the precautions taken by the State in the sale of poisons much too little care is taken by the public in the safeguarding of poisons in their possession, and these are commonly taken in mistake for other substances of a harmless nature, or often an overdose is taken from pure carelessness.

Thus, oxalic acid crystals when purchased in a paper packet may be transferred to a bottle or jar which is unlabelled and then taken in mistake for Epsom salts which they closely resemble.

Similarly tablets of corrosive sublimate have been taken in mistake for tablets of a harmless nature such as Blaud's pills. It cannot be too strongly insisted upon that it is the duty of every individual possessing a substance of poisonous nature to take the utmost care that this is correctly labelled and kept safely guarded under lock and key; by this means accidental poisoning would be largely prevented.