76 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



STATE LABORATORY NEEDED. 



The results accoMiplislied have demonstrated the absolute need 

 of increased facilities for analytical work. At the present time, 

 the thousands of samples of food and drink which are collected by 

 the special agents of this Division for analysis are submitted to 

 chemists located in various parts of the Commonwealth, and as 

 some of these chemists are also doing a large amount of private 

 work, delays in analyses and in securing reports of results are in- 

 evitable. It is believed that the State could profitably and with 

 great advantage to the work, establish a chemical laboratory at 

 Harrisburg, and I would heartily recommend such a project. Its 

 utility and economy can hardly be questioned. The establishment 

 of such a laboratory would also materially assist in more promptly 

 detecting violations of the law and expediting court trials. This 

 subject should receive early and careful consideration. If estab- 

 lished, the laboratory could be made available for other analytical 

 work of the Department of Agriculture, which is now being per- 

 formed by special contract by outside parties. 



BENEFICIAL FOOD LEGISLATION. 



Pennsylvania has, perhaps, done more for the improvement of the 

 food supx>ly of her citizens than any other state in the Union. This 

 State will no longer be permitted to become the dumping ground 

 for bad food. The laws, with a few needed changes, are ample 

 and will continue to be enforced. The unjust ideas that were preva- 

 lent at one time have been removed, and the policy carried out and 

 recommendations made by this Division have driven from our 

 markets many of the fraudulent products which formerly com- 

 manded a ready sale. Their projectors at first condemned the law 

 as being too severe, alleging that it was the only law of its kind 

 which did not contain a proviso to give it elasticity, as in the case 

 of the laws of certain other states. Wilful and fraudulent adultera- 

 tion has been carefully checked, while the legitimate trade has 

 always been accorded the most careful consideration in order that 

 possible wrong or injustice might be avoided; and this class of 

 tradesmen are to-day amongst the staunchest supporters of the 

 beneficent pure food laws of Pennsylvania. 



MEATS DOSED V^ITII DRUGS AND DYES. 



It has been discovered that agents of certain manufacturing and 

 wholesale concerns are endeavoring to flood the State not only with 

 illegal preservatives, which are employed to "doctor" milk and 

 cream, but they are likewise imposing on many butchers and other 

 dealers in meats by the sale of preservatives which are sold under 



