424 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



DOMESTIC DKUQS. 



The violations were found to be very' similar to those encountered 

 hi previous years, namely, misrepresentation on the labels of bottles, 

 cartons, and in advertising:; literature accompanying packaj^jes, 

 and the absence of any statement regardhifi; the presence of pre- 

 scribed drugs, opium, morpliin, codein, cocain, alcohol, ether, chloro- 

 form, etc., or the incorrect declarations of the same. 



A number of the United States pharmacopoeial products have 

 been found below the requirements; that is, either deficient in 

 alkaloidal strength, containing foreign material, or entirely spurious. 

 Notices of Judgment have been issued in connection with certain 

 pharmacopoeial drugs based upon such findings, as follows: Bella- 

 donna root containing ground olive pits, henbane adulterated with 

 Hyoscyamus muticus, powdered gentian containing foreign material, 

 powdered cloves adulterated with clove stalks, and colocynth 

 (powdered) containing a large amount of the seed, specifically 

 excluded by the Pharmacopoeia. 



Examination of a number of bitters of the Fernet type revealed 

 the fact that they were of domestic origin, containing methyl alcohol, 

 and therefore spurious imitations of products imported into tliis 

 country. 



The attendance of analysts in court cases has consumed much 

 time in the last year. 



IMPORTED PRODUCTS. 



All cases of drug products detained at the port laboratories for 

 which no precedent has been established are referred to the Washing- 

 ton drug inspection laboratory for check anal3^sis and action, as are 

 also all appeals in connection with imported drugs. 



The quality of crude drugs continues to improve, but experience 

 shows that it is necessary to maintain strict inspection. For example, 

 shipments of inferior goods may be denied entry at one or more ports 

 and subsequently consignments of a similar character, if not the 

 rejected material, will be offered for entry at a port where it w^ould 

 not ordinarily be expected. 



The violations met with in imported products are more or less 

 similar to those cases noted in connection mth domestic drugs; 

 that is, misrepresentations upon the labels, cartons, and in the 

 accompanying literature, and the absence of declarations or incorrect 

 declarations of the proscribed ingredients. 



Certain shortcomings were found in shipments of such products as 

 cubebs, containing an excess of stems, immature and inferior berries; 

 buchu leaves containing a large excess of stems; uva ursi, inferior 

 in quality and contaminated with a large excess of stems; digitalis, 

 poor quality and unfit for medicinal use; sarsaparilla root, mixed 

 with a large proportion of rliizomes, which is the portion the United 

 States Pharmacopoeia specifically states should be excluded; gum 

 tragacanth, of inferior quality, very low grade, and adulterated with 

 Indian gum. Many importations of asafetida have been permitted 

 entry in harmony with Treasury Decision 31097, which provides that 

 under certain conditions asafetida may be allowed entry in case the 



