An habitual drunkard, as defined by law, is “a person who, not being amenable to any jurisdiction in lunacy, is notwithstanding, by reason of habitual intemperate drinking of intoxicating liquor, at times dangerous to himself or herself, or to others, or incapable of managing himself or herself or his or her own affairs.”
Before placing such a person under restraint in a licensed retreat the person‘s consent must be obtained. The patient must make an application to a Justice of the Peace, and supported by a declaration from two persons stating that the applicant is an habitual drunkard within the meaning of the Act. If the justice be satisfied, he can make out an order for detention. The order is valid for any time mentioned in the application not exceeding two years. The patient can be detained, forcibly if necessary, and if escaped may be arrested and taken back.
SECTION II
TOXICOLOGY
CHAPTER I
DEFINITION OF A POISON—SALE OF POISONS—CLASSIFICATION OF POISONS—ACTION OF POISONS—GENERAL EVIDENCE OF POISONING—GENERAL TREATMENT IN CASES OF POISONING —GENERAL METHODS OF EXAMINATION FOR POISON
Toxicology is that division of Forensic Medicine which takes into consideration the modes and actions of poisons upon the living body, the treatment of their effects upon the body, and the methods of detecting them when occasion requires.
Definition of a Poison.—Neither the law nor medicine defines a poison. The popular definition is to be avoided, viz., that, a poison is a substance capable of acting injuriously on the body when taken or administered in a small dose.
Husband defined a poison 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.”