468 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



decision rcndorcd by the Supreme Court of the United States, holding 

 that any statement or expression of opinion rehitive to the curative 

 or heaUng qualities of sucn nostrums could not be considered a mis- 

 branding within the meaning of the law. Attention will be devoted, 

 however, to the investigation of the character of crude drugs, phar- 

 maceuticals, and preparations to ascertain whether they comply 

 •mth the standards of purity and strength required by the United 

 States Pharmacopoeia and by the published formulas of the manufac- 

 turers. Attention will also be driven to the investigation of other 

 drug products which may be required from time to time by the drug 

 division. 



It has been impossible heretofore to give any attention to inspec- 

 tion work outside of the confines of the United States, but plans have 

 already been laid and the necessary steps taken to begin a vigorous 

 and thorough inspection of the food and drug supplies shipped to 

 Alaska, as well as those which may be produced or manufactured 

 there. Because of the climatic conditions, the season for prosecuting 

 this work will necessarily be of short duration, and the force is not 

 strong enough numerically to permit a force of inspectors to be 

 detailed for this work, but at the same time it is hoped to accomplish 

 something toward correcting any violations of the law which may 

 exist in that Territory. 



DRUG WORK. 



The work planned for the coming year consists primarily in the 

 examination of domestic and imported drugs and the preparation of 

 cases based upon interstate shipments found to be misbranded or 

 adulterated. The drug work at the branch laboratories will be 

 extended as rapidly as possible. Special investigations of analytical 

 processes will be continued for the separation, detection, and deter- 

 mination of alkaloids and other plant constituents contained in 

 medicinal products. The effects of prolonged storage on the active 

 principles contained in medicinal agents now under investigation will 

 be continued. 



Further studies will be made for the improvement of methods for 

 the detection and determination of opium and constituents thereof 

 contained in medicinal agents, and of the analytical processes for the 

 detection and estimation of such constituents as ether, ethyl alcohol, 

 and chloroform, so frequently found in complex mixtures. It is also 

 planned to extend the investigations covering cooperative work on 

 test mixtures of therapeutic drugs, in particular those containing 

 synthetic morphin derivatives, heroin, codcin, etc.; substitutes for 

 cocain, such as novacocain, eucain, alypin, etc.; natural and syn- 

 thetic laxatives belonging or closely related to the emodin group. 

 Some interesting results have already been obtained in attempts to 

 estimate minute quantities of chloroform in complex mixtures, and 

 further investigations along this line are contemplated for the ensuing 

 year. 



SPECIAL FOOD INVESTIGATIONS. 



The examination of interstate and imported samples of foods and 

 drugs in connection with the enforcement of the food and drugs act 

 will continue to occupy the greater part of the time of Food and Drug 



