(58 ANNUAL, RKPORT. OF THE. Uft. Due. 



After all that has been said, it is true that the people who are alive 

 to the public good, and who lead business pursuits within legitimate 

 lines, have but little danger to apprehend, and seldom show any con- 

 cern relative to the statutes in force. The indilference, however, 

 has not been without some evil consequences, resulting in, perhaps, 

 too little respect for the laws. No Act of Assembly should become 

 a nullity for any cause and still be permitted to remain upon the 

 statute books. 



RETROSPECTIVE AND OTHERWISE. 



The Dairy and Food Commissioner of Pennsylvania, without the 

 least desire to appear egotistical, begs to state that since his induc- 

 tion into office in April, 1903, he has been fairly well assured, and is 

 of opinion, that his pure food prosecutions have not only antagonized 

 old ideas, but also upset old practices and customs. Some of these 

 movements in behalf of pure food very naturally reached points of 

 operation that were more or less sensitive, but there was no diver- 

 gence from the line of official duty and responsibility as subsequent 

 events proved, the only desire being to avoid swerving from the 

 direct line of duty to which he was obligated. As a medical doctor 

 he could not be otherwise than in hearty sympathy with the Pure 

 Food Laws, knowing in particular the danger and character of the 

 modern food preservatives. He did not enter upon his duties without 

 a full and proper appreciation of the evils and difficulties with which 

 he would be confronted in the form of adulterated, preserved, coun- 

 terfeit and impure articles of food and drink. 



In the consideration of the numerous jjroblems which are con- 

 stantly arising, the Commissioner has at all times proven that he 

 does not concur in the views of an alarmist, but would prefer readers 

 to study the facts as they appear in the publications of the Dairy and 

 Food Bureau, and form their own conclusions. The pure food ques- 

 tion is no longer experimental. Practical, scientific authorities know 

 exactly what the effect of any given food preservative has upon the 

 human family. Nature, through the medium of experimentation 

 upon men, women and children, as well as upon inferior animals, has 

 prescribed a course of procedure that cannot be misunderstood, and 

 must not be ignored. 



I have the honor to be. 



Very truly yours. 



Dairy and Food Commissioner. 



