allowed to receive more than one lunatic patient into his house unless the house be licensed as an asylum, and the statute further enacts that no person, unless he derive no profit from the care of the patient, or a committee appointed by the Lord Chancellor, shall board or lodge any one patient in any house without the proper order and medical certificates. A licence for a house becomes necessary only where more than one patient is received. It is also important to remember that if any one receive a person not insane at the time, but who subsequently becomes insane, he renders himself liable to prosecution, unless he procure the necessary medical certificates and order (R. v. Wilkins).

Is a Lunatic a Competent Witness?—Mr Fitzjames Stephen maintains-Crim. Law'—that madmen are competent witnesses in relation to testimony as in relation to crime. If they understand the nature of an oath and the character of the proceedings in which they are engaged, they are competent witnesses whatever be the nature or degree of their mental disorder. An idiot shall not be allowed to give evidence (Co. Litt. 6 b.; Gilb. Ev. 144); a lunatic during a lucid interval may, Id. Com. Dig. Testm. (A). When a lunatic is tendered as a witness, it is for the judge to examine and ascertain whether he is of competent understanding to give evidence, and is aware of the nature aud obligation of an oath; if satisfied that he is, the judge should allow him to be sworn and examined (R. v. Hill, 2 Den. 255; 20 L.J. (M.C.) 222).

Civil Rights of Lunatics.-If an individual be suffering from such mental disease as to render him incompetent to manage his own affairs, the law steps in to protect him and his property from injury. But the power so used does not necessarily imply that he is deprived of his personal freedom, but merely such restraint as is necessary for his protection. Many lunatics under the protection of the Court live in their own houses with large establishments. A person

so protected by the law is said to be subject to an 'interdiction.' In these cases a commission is usually granted by the Court of Chancery, and a writ known under the name of 'de lunatico inquirendo' issued, after certain legal matters of detail are settled, and affidavits from medical men certifying to the insanity of the party have been filed. The tests of insanity in these cases differ from those required in criminal cases, where the knowledge of right from wrong is imperatively demanded. The mental defect must not be the result of ignorance or want of education, and at one time commissions were only issued when it was shown that lunacy or idiocy alone existed, imbecility or mere weakness of mind not being deemed sufficient to deprive a man of his civil rights, or to place him under the protection of the Court. To so great an absurdity did this lead, that the man suffering from a delusion sufficient to be comprehended under the legal term 'lunacy,' was protected, whereas the feeble-minded were left without interference though needing it more. The cost of these commissions sometimes reached almost fabulous sums. The expense has been somewhat lessened by recent enactments, and the process simplified, the Lord Chancellor having it in his power to direct an inquiry before two commissioners, thus dispensing with a jury. See the 16 and 17 Vict., c. 70, and 25 and 26 Vict., c. 86. In Scotland the law is far more simple. The cognition proceeds on a brieve or writ addressed to the Lord President of the Court of Session, and directs him to inquire 'whether the person sought to be cognosced is insane, who is his nearest agnate, and whether such agnate is of lawful age.' 'And such person shall be deemed insane if he be furious or fatuous, or labours under such unsoundness of mind as to render him incapable of managing his affairs.' 'The trial is before a judge of the Supreme Court and a special jury. If the insanity be proved, the nearest agnate-relation by the

father's side-is by law entitled to the guardianship.' No one not a near relative can institute these proceedings. In Scotland also the trial by jury may be avoided by applying by petition to the Court of Session for the appointment of a judicial factor or curator bonis. Of this appointment the alleged lunatic is informed, which if he please he may oppose, medical evidence is received, and on this the Court rests its decision, the usual course being to remit the case to some competent person to make inquiry, take evidence, and report. The commissioner is usually the Sheriff.

Examination of the Insane.-A few words of caution need here be said. Medical men will consult their own dignity and that of their profession by remembering that in cases of alleged insanity, as in fact in all other cases when their opinion is sought, they are not justified in taking sides. Their evidence will be the more valuable in proportion to the care they take in examining into the facts of the case, and the good sense and judgment shown in their examination of the patient. To distinguish between the mistakes the result of ignorance and want of education, and those the result of a feeble mind, is of primary importance. It is no sign of insanity in an uneducated farmer that he know not the pons asinorum. All cases should be tested by considering the surroundings and possible degree of culture of a person placed under like conditions as the party under examination. Has he shown himself capable of an average amount of culture? or is his mental condition inferior to what one might legitimately expect under the influences to which he has been subjected? The medical examiner should also direct his attention to this important point, setting aside all legal and medical theories of insanity, viz :'Is the case of such mental disorder as to create an incapacity for managing affairs,'

Duties of a Medical Officer to a Union with regard to Lunatics.

Every medical officer of a union district, on his becoming aware that any pauper resident in his district is, or is deemed to be, a lunatic, and proper person to be sent to an asylum, must within three days give notice in writing to the relieving officer, or failing him, to the overseers, subject to a penalty not exceeding £10 for neglect. A medical officer paid to visit a lunatic in his district renders himself liable to fine, if, for the sake of retaining the fee, he do not send such lunatic to an asylum when necessary.

TOXICOLOGY

Toxicology is that division of forensic medicine which takes into consideration the modes, the actions, and also the methods of detecting poisons when occasion requires.

Poison.-Neither the law nor medicine defines a poison; but for all practical purposes, a poison may be defined as any substance which, introduced into the system or applied to the body, is injurious to health and destroys life, irrespective of temperature or mechanical

means.

Administration of Noxious Drugs.-At a recent Bodmin Assizes, Lord Chief-Justice Cockburn, after consultation with Mr Justice Hawkins, delivered an important judgment on this subject. A man was charged with administrating cantharides with a criminal intent. The judges ruled that there must not only be an admini stration of a noxious drug with a guilty intent, but the drug must have been administered in such quantities as to be noxious, whereas the dose here given was too small to be seriously deleterious. Distinction

was drawn between a drug like cantharides, which is only noxious when given in excess, and strychnine, a well-established poison. Acquittal was therefore directed.

Classification of Poisons.-A good and scientific classification of poisons is still wanted. The following may be taken as guides by the student :—

Alkaline poisons-Caustic soda.
Non-metallic-Phosphorus, iodine.
Metallic-Arsenic, antimony.

Vegetable-Savin, elaterium, etc.
Animal-Cantharides.

Cerebral-Opium, hydrocyanic acid, alcohol.

NEUROTICS Spinal-Strychnia, nux vomica

Cerebro-spinal-Conia, belladonna, aconite.
Cerebro-cardiac-Calabar bean, digitalis.

(Taylor.)

that

The subjoined classification is based upon adopted by Professor Maclagan, but for the arrangement of poisons under each group I am entirely responsible. I have tried to classify the poisons in accordance with the latest views as to the physiological action of each substance. Where the poison acts in such a manner as to place it in two or more groups, I have fully described it in one, merely drawing attention to it under the others :-