204 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



retail market and obtain samples of foods and drugs shipped in in- 

 terstate commerce. (2) To inspect manufacturing establishments 

 and secure information in regard to the nature of the foods shipped 

 in interstate commerce. (3) To investigate the manufacture and use 

 of substances which are or maj^ be employed for the adulteration of 

 foods and drugs and methods of preparation which may lead to the 

 damage or deterioration of foods and drugs, or to the use of improper 

 materials in their manufacture. (4) To inspect foods and drugs 

 imported at ports where branch laboratories have not been established. 

 In addition to these duties, special investigations are frequently made 

 by inspectors concerning important .questions of sanitation and proc- 

 esses of manufacture. 



Samples are shipped to the laboratories at Washington or to one 

 of the 22 branch laboratories which are located at the principal 

 ports of entry and the leading commercial centers. 



Wlien goods are found that are in violation of the law, the dealer 

 or shipper is given an opportunity to appear before the Secretary of 

 Agriculture, the Board of Food and Drug Inspection, or such official 

 as may be designated, and present evidence in reference to the ques- 

 tion at issue. If after the hearing it appears that the law has been 

 violated, the board makes the appropriate recommendation to the 

 Secretary of Agriculture, who certifies the fact to the proper United 

 States attorney through the Attorney General, together with the 

 necessary information regarding the case. It is then the duty of 

 the district attorney to prosecute the case in the United States district 

 courts. 



The law also provides that adulterated or misbranded food or 

 drugs sold or offered for sale in the District of Columbia or the Ter- 

 ritories, imported, delivered for export, or introduced into interstate 

 commerce may be seized and disposed of by destruction or sale, as the 

 court may direct. 



INVESTIGATIONS TJNDEE THE FOOD AND DBTJQS ACT. 



In addition to the chemical analysis of samples taken in tne enforce- 

 ment of the food and drugs act, a great deal of work has been neces- 

 sary in the way of investigating manufacturing processes and trade 

 practices in many classes of food and drug products. A considerable 

 portion of the time of the analysts of the bureau has been devoted to 

 research work along these lines. In the scope of this report it is only 

 possible to refer in a general way to a few of the important studies. 

 The investigations have two general objects in view: (1) To secure 

 data on which to base action under the food and drugs act. (2) To 

 show manufacturers and dealers how they can prepare, pack, and 

 ship their products in such manner as to increase their quality and 



