Chemical and Physical Papers. 47 



strength is not necessarily an indication that the tincture has not been 

 properly made, or that it is not of official quality. It is compara- 

 tively easy to decide whether a crude drug corresponds to the official 

 definition and description, but after this drug has been broken into 

 particles previous to making it into a preparation its quality is 

 much more difficult to ascertain, and to judge of its quality from 

 the finished preparation is unfortunately far too often an impossi- 

 bility. 



The absence of the physical characteristics from a preparation 

 which are well known to the experienced druggist should go far 

 towards condemning the preparation ; but, on the other hand, their 

 apparent presence is a poor guaranty for genuineness, for it is in 

 this very particular that the skilful sophisticator takes pride in his 

 iniquity and frequently outdoes himself. This is especially true 

 in the case of colored and odorous preparations. Take, for exam- 

 ple, the well-known tincture of vanilla ; it is safe to say that but 

 few people have any acquaintance with the pure article, and if they 

 were allowed free choice between the pure and the factitious they 

 would in the majority of instances choose the latter, though the 

 relative value of it, based upon its actual cost, is not one-third that 

 of the official article. It is in cases of this kind that the misbrand- 

 ing claftse in the new law is especially pertinent. If you prefer 

 the genuine, buy your tincture of vanilla. United States Pharma- 

 copoeia; if you prefer the factitious, buy the compound tincture of 

 vanillin. National Formulary; if you belong to the don't-care class, 

 continue to use the "extract of vanilla," which is generally inferior 

 in quality to either of the others, and usually as high, if not higher, 

 in price. 



Besides the flavoring essences, the spices and condiments will 

 also be affected by this clause, but in a way that will work to the 

 good of the consumer. The result of adulteration in such articles, 

 however, is of little moment when compared with the seriousness 

 of adulteration in the realms of medicines proper. In this connec- 

 tion, it should be borne in mind that the further removed from the 

 crude drug the medicine is, the greater the opportunity for adul- 

 teration and the less the chance for detection. In view of these 

 points, and in spite of the new law, the fact still remains that the 

 only safe way at the present time is to patronize those druggists 

 whom you know as men as well as druggists and whose ability and 

 integrity you know to be above question. If it is your desire to 

 use cheap drugs, they can furnish them as cheaply as any one ; but 

 in any case do not begrudge them their just compensation for the 

 knowledge and skill they place at your disposal in time of need. 



