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reason many chemical preparations fail to meet the reasonable ex- 

 pectations of the country practitioners, who have neither time, means 

 nor opportunity of analysis. 



"Whence do we derive the largest proportion of these adulterated 

 and deteriorated medicines? 



"Ansiver. The largest quantity comes from England; but other 

 portions of Europe furnish more or less of these base compounds 

 and worthless drugs. 



"Is this traffic on the increase, proportionate to the increase in the 

 trade of drugs, medicines, &c? 



" Ansiver. It is. 



" What proportion of the importers in New York are engaged in 

 this traffic, to any extent, with a full knowledge of the articles im- 

 ported ? 



" Answer. I know of but two or three of our regular and otherwise 

 respectable houses who order these vitiated articles from abroad. 

 The business is more generally in the hands of commission houses, 

 where 'good, bad, and indifferent' can be found 'in quantities to 

 suit the purchasers.' A great proportion of these adulterated arti- 

 cles I have reason to believe are consignments. 



"From your knowledge of medicine, and the information acquired 

 in your present position, are not the deceptions, in many instances, 

 so great as to deceive, not only the people generally, but the pro- 

 fession at large? 



"Answer. Such is, unfortunately, too true; and, what is more to 

 be regretted, these base imitations are rapidly multiplying; giving, 

 at the same time, evidence on the part of the manufacturer of in- 

 creased proficiency in the deceptive art, as applied to the prepara- 

 tion of vitiated medicines. 



"Are you acquainted with any agents of foreign manufacturing 

 chemists who travel in this country, for the purpose of collecting 

 orders and effecting sales of adulterated medicines, &c? 



"Ansiver. I am acquainted with persons of that description, and 

 they have been among us for the past twelve months. 



"What is the best and most effective mode to put an end to the im- 

 portation of adulterated and deteriorated medicines? 



"Answer. In my opinion, the object can only be attained by the 

 passage of a law by Congress, making it necessary that all drugs, 

 medicines, &c, before passing the custom-house, shall be subjected 

 to an examination, strictly in reference to their strength and purity, 

 by properly qualified examiners, especially appointed to that duty; 



