157 
The druggists are also accustomed to sell the extract of - 
opium mixed with a portion of gum arabic, which is added 
by those who work for the druggists, to augment its weight,» 
and to give it even greater consistence and brilliancy than it 
ought to have, and hence arises the low price at which it is 
afforded by the druggist. Such an Extract cannot produce the 
effects which the Faculty expect, because neither they nor the 
purchasers from the druggists can know the relative quantities 
of opiam and of gum in each portion of such a mixture. | 
Among the many articles which are usually bought from drug-— 
gists by the unskilful, Opium is found without that indispensa- 
ble purification which it requires when intended to be used in-~ 
ternally, by means of which physicians separate 1€ quantity 
which it contains of wax, sand, earth, leaves, seeds, and other 
impurities added by the Asiatic factors for the sake of gain. 
And, to conclude this digression, they also vend Tartar emetic 
and other medicines, all prepared without careful attention, 
and without the relative quantities of each ingredient pre-. 
scribed by the Pharmacopeeias ; and they are all dispatched em- 
piricaily, without order, without method, and without the re- 
sponsibility required from the apothecaries: from all which. 
abuses there must necessarily result continual disappointments, 
which are sometimes attributed to the physicians, to the dispa- 
ragement of their reputation and interests. att 
I have in almost every instance separated from two to five 
ounces of earth and other impurities from each pound of Virgi- 
nian Snake-root. Qn the present occasion I separated from four 
pounds of Snake-root which I purchased, twelve ounces of earth. 
and six ounces of various little roots, sticks, bits of straw, wool, - 
down, moss, and numerous other spurious substances, which 
I .give as evidence of the fact to. this i}ustrious Academy 
ys 
