470 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DT.PAKTMKNT OF AGRICULTURE. 



NEW YORK LABORATORY. 



Inspection avork. — The New York laboiatory is chiefly concerned 

 ■with the inspection and examination of imported food and drug 

 products, as provided for by section 11 of the food and drugs act. 

 During the past year 47,821 cases of foods and drugs were inspected 

 on tlie examiners' floors, from which no samples were taken; 4,014 

 samples were analyzed in the laboratory, of wdiich 1,632, or about 40 

 per cent, were found to be in violation of the law. One hundred and 

 thirty-five shipments were reshipped or destroyed, and 1,245 ship- 

 ments were permitted entry after being relabeled or sorted. The 

 principal food products analyzed were fruit and fruit products, 

 cheese, edible oils, liquors, essential oils, cereal products, and spices. 

 Among the food products examined during the past year were a large 

 number of shipments of beans from Italy, which were infested with 

 a small fly, the bite of which produced a rash on the workmen on the 

 docks. A large number of shipments of figs were found to be so 

 badly infested with worms and worm excreta as to necessitate their 

 reshipment. 



With regard to the crude drugs presented for entry, a marked im- 

 provement in quality is noted, as is shown by the following review: 



Belladonna leaves. — These have improved very much in quality. From about 

 60 shipments examined, less than 10 per cent have been deficient in assay. Of 

 these about one-half contained scopola leaves. 



Belladonna root. — About 20 shipments were examined, 3 of which contained 

 poke root, and were decidedly deficient in alkaloid. Some lar^e shipments, 

 however, averaging 50 bales, equaled or exceeded the pharmacopceial require- 

 ment as to alkaloid content. 



Asafcetida. — This commodity, although there has been a considerable im- 

 provement, is still, as a rule, of poor quality. Of 45 shipments examined more 

 than half did not come up to the U. S. P. standards. 



Cinchona. — Of the 28 shipments entered all samples taken were above the 

 U. S. P. standard. 



Benzoin. — Of 21 shipments entered practically all complied with the 15 

 per cent insoluble standard. Several, however, were entered for "technical 

 purposes only," and declared 25 per cent insoluble in alcohol. 



Jahorandi. — With the exception of one sample, consisting of a false variety, 

 all the jaborandi has been of excellent quality, assaying about 0.75 per cent, 

 which exceeds the U. S. P. requirement. 



Copaiba. — Of 105 shipments entered only 2 per cent contained foreign resins. 

 Copaiba has improved to such an extent that the South American importations 

 are practically pure. Five large shipments of African balsam were entered, 

 consisting of about 200.000 pounds. 



Balsam Peru. — Sixty-two shipments were entered. The San Salvador and 

 Colombian varieties are up to the U. S. P. standard. 



Synthetic Peru. — A very close imitation of the natural has been offered, but 

 the majority is brought in for technical use only. Nine shipments of " pem- 

 gene " were entered in the same way. 



Henbane. — Of over 30 shipments entered, although many assay as high as 

 0.13 per cent, yet over 20 per cent are deficient in alkaloid, due to the excessive 

 amount of sand mixed with the leaves. 



Stramonium. — Thirteen shipments were entered, all of which were of good 

 quality. 



Quince seed. — Sixteen shipments were entered, of which over 75 per cent were 

 detained because of excessive foreign material averaging 40 per cent. 



Jalap. — Eighty-four shipments were entered, and of 11 samples analyzed but 

 1 was deficient in resin. The resin content averaged 10 per cent. 



Rhubarb, colchicum., chamomile, ipecac, coca, tolu, guarana. — These continue 

 to be of excellent quality. "With one exception gentian roots were up to the 

 standard. As before stated, adulteration has decreased to a large extent, 

 resulting in the importation of drugs of superior quality. 



