The presentment of the jury that greater restrictions should be
placed on the sale of poisons is very sensible, but the difficulty is to know in what direction any effective restriction can be made. As far as we can see, licensed practitioners who have learned to write prescriptions properly, and who sign them with their names, must be allowed to poison us, if they will, as well as to heal us, if they will ; and anything that would restrict the one operation, would also restrict the other. Of course, an adequate restriction could be placed on the sale of poisons to persons who are not genuine licentiates of medicine ; but, un- fortunately, the chief danger is derived from unscrupulous per- sons who have qualified themselves by some sort of regular study for the use of• poisons. We confess we do not see how you can prevent medical men from using for evil, a power which you must allow them to use for good.
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