DIVISION OF DRUGS. 



LYMAN F. KEBLER, Chief. 



The Drug Laboratory was organized March 1, 1903, for the pur- 

 pose of investigating the composition, adulteration, and false labeling 

 or false branding of drugs and ingredients entering into the manu- 

 facture of such products and was made a division on January 1, 1908. 

 In order to carry on the work more effectively, the following labora- 

 tories were established in the Division of Drugs on July 1, 1908: 



Drug Inspection Laboratory, G. W. Hoover, Chief. This laboratory is charged with 

 the examination of drugs sampled in connection with the enforcement of the food 

 and drugs act, June 30, 1906, excepting those for which special arrangement is made 

 at the branch laboratories. This includes a general investigation of drug products, 

 bought on the market, to determine their standard composition and adulterants. 



Synthetic Products Laboratory, W. 0. Emery, Chief. This laboratory will investi- 

 gate synthetic products and preparations containing them, develop methods for the 

 analysis of organic synthesis, and study the preparation of organic compounds and 

 their analysis. 



Essential Oils Laboratory, under chief of division. It is the duty of this laboratory 

 to investigate the essential oils and products in the manufacture of which the same 

 are used. This necessitates studies relative to the chemical constitution and physical 

 character of essential oils, the development of methods of analysis, and the improve- 

 ment of those now existing; also the study of analytical processes for the examination 

 of products containing essential oils. 



Pharmacological Laboratory, Wm. Salant, in charge. The duty of this laboratory 

 is to investigate the pharmacological action of drug products under the food and drugs 

 act of June 30, 1906. This includes a study of the physiological and pathological 

 effects produced on animals by the medicinal substances which enter into the compo- 

 sition of commercial drug products and by the derivatives and preparations of the 

 same. 



The prosecution of these studies requires the establishment of 

 standards of purity and the development of methods for determining 

 the same, without which it would be impossible to determine adul- 

 teration. When authorized standards exist, as in the case of many 

 articles recognized by the United States Pharmacopoeia, the medicinal 

 remedies available on the market are examined for the purpose of 

 ascertaining to what extent they comply with or deviate from such 

 standards. The methods employed in determining the quality of 

 medicinal agents are studied, and the data thus obtained are to be 

 utilized in improving existing methods of analysis and in changing 

 such standards as are found to be faulty or impracticable. 



Especial attention is being given at present to the analytical 

 methods used for testing potent plant drugs and products derived 

 from them. As referee on medicinal plants and drugs of the Asso- 

 ciation of Official Agricultural Chemists, the chief of the Division 

 of Drugs has undertaken systematic collaborative work with the 

 pharmaceutical chemists of this country. Recognized methods for 



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