In a message dated 26/03/2007 14:17:41 GMT Daylight Time, d.g.wilson@ntlworld.com writes: Was this a common way to carry out suicide and would there have been an inquest? ________________________________________________ Hi David, The answer is 'yes' and 'yes' (:- )) The purchase of such poisons as strychnine and arsenic had been relatively easy, but in 1868 the Poisons and Pharmacy Act was passed. This limited the sale of arsenic, cyanide and opium, previously sold everywhere from grocers' to pubs, to registered pharmacists; the pharmacists, in turn, were obliged to record details of their sales (date, quantity and purchaser). Regards Stan Mapstone