256 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of sophistication. This exj^edient has for the time being been success- 

 ful so far as the apparent vohime of ^vork accomplished would seem to 

 indicate, since tlie total number of cases recommended to the Solicitor 

 for prosecution exceeded by 40 the total for last year, when a iar 

 larger number of cases was developed tlian in any previous year. 

 Furthermore, the number of imports of food and drugs was un- 

 usually large, so that with the depleted staffs at the port labora- 

 tories of the bureau it was exceedingly difficult to examine all entries 

 uniformly. The volume of this kind of work can not be regulated, 

 nor can it be planned for in advance. 



While, therefore, the enforcement of the food and drugs act dur- 

 ing the ytar Avas probably quite as effective as in any preceding 

 year, this favorable showing was the resultant of at least four 

 factors: (1) Increased efficiency and experience; (2) the lag that 

 exists in the recording of results (a large number of the cases devel- 

 oped in any year do not appear in these records until the succeeding 

 year) ; (3) the use of research chemists for law-enforcement work, 

 with a corresponding lessening of the bureau's efficiency in con- 

 structive research; (4) increasing the proportion of seizure actions 

 as compared with criminal prosecutions over that which prevailed in 

 former years. The amount of labor involved in developing a crimi- 

 nal prosecution is, as a rule, very much greater than that required to 

 consummate a seizure. 



The neglect of research, which has been unavoidable, will in- 

 evitably in time impair the effectiveness of the enforcement of the 

 law, since the bureau is dependent upon research for the means to 

 combat new types of sophistication which are constantly appearing 

 as methods and materials change with the evolution of the food and 

 drug industries. Finally, without its research work the bureau can 

 not render to the general public, the farmer, and the food and drug 

 manufacturer that consulting and advisory service concerning the 

 chemistry and technology of foods and drugs, organic chemicals, 

 agricultural chemistry, and a host of kindred subjects which the 

 country has a right to expect. However, as the conduct of any indi- 

 vidual research usually covers a period of years, the effect is not yet 

 apparent in the bureau's research output as measured by the number 

 of its publications during the year. The bureau put out 7 depart- 

 ment bulletins, 4 circulars, and 1 farmers' bulletin. In addition, the 

 results of more than 75 investigations were made public, while those 

 of over 50 are now in press. The experimental work upon a number 

 of others has been completed. At the beginning of the fiscal year 15 

 applications for public service patents were pending. Twelve addi- 

 tional applications were filed during the year; 6 were granted, 6 

 denied, and 15 are pending. 



The total appropriation, for the bureau was $1,391,500, of which 

 about $50,000 remained unexpended and reverted into the Treasury. 

 The latter sum represents in the main moneys allotted for salaries 

 but unexpended because vacancies due to resignations could not be 

 filled promptly or, indeed, in many cases, filled at all. Incidentally, 

 it may be stated that for some time past there has not been a year 

 when a portion of the bureau's appropriation has not remained unex- 

 pended. In 1918 it was as little as $7,881.73, but in 1917 it was 

 $105,978.08 



