16 DEUG LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Large quantities of an imperfectly manufactured iodine are imported in kegs 

 and put in the usual small bottles and parcels here. It is very impure, black, 

 and damp, and totally unfit for medicinal purposes. 



Much of the iodide, or 'hydriodate of potassium, a valuable medicine when 

 pure, is greatly adulterated by the admixture of nitrate of potassium (salt- 

 peter), thereby changing its nature and rendering it comparatively worthless. 



Many chemical preparations are not infrequently misnamed, imposing by that 

 means upon the purchaser some inferior article, bearing a similitude to the 

 genuine, but different in medicinal qualities and value, the label and the mode 

 of package affording no security to the honest purchaser. 



Thus might your committee continue through the whole catalogue, as most of 

 the fine medicinal chemicals are prepared of unequal strength and purity for the 

 purpose of cheapening their cost, thereby rendering them less effective and more 

 uncertain in the treatment of disease, and in some cases actually dangerous to 

 the patient, as well as obviously unjust and greatly embarrassing to the physi- 

 cian. We will here, however, proceed no further, believing the facts already Ret 

 forth, respecting very many of our most important medicines and those in daily 

 use, will, if fully understood, satisfy your honorable body of the imperative 

 necessity of the passage of a law calculated effectually to put a stop to this 

 reckless and murderous trifling with human life for the sake of filthy lucre. 

 Every feeling of humanity, as well as regard to justice, toward those who are 

 intrusted with the lives of the people demands this at your hands. 



In reply to numerous questions asked by the select committee on the 

 importation of drugs, Doctor Bailey, examiner of drugs, medicines, 

 and chemical preparations in the department of customs, situated in 

 New York, gave the following information: There were imported 

 through the custom-house of New York during the year 1847 about 

 $1,500.000 worth of the above goods. Of this amount more than 

 half was adulterated or had deteriorated in value so that it was 

 rendered not only worthless for medicinal use but often dangerous. 

 In addition to the fraudulent dealings enumerated above, he said: 



Very little, if any, of the pure Russian castor finds its way to this country. 

 An imitation coiuixnmd of dried blood, gum ammoniac, and a little real castor, 

 put up in artificial bags, is the article generally met with. Gum asafetida is 

 most extensively adulterated with inferior mucilaginous gums, chalk, clay, etc. 

 Thousands of pounds of worthless rhubarb root are sent out annually to this 

 country for a market by foreign speculators, principally from England. London 

 being the greatest drug market in the world, it is but reasonable to suppose 

 that large quantities of crude drugs of a greatly deteriorated and inferior 

 quality must necessarily be constantly accumulating in their warehouses, which, 

 on account of the long-existing laws of that country, can not find a home market, 

 and in consequence must either be destroyed or exported to some place where 

 there is no law to prevent their introduction. 



It was further stated that many samples of Peruvian bark were 

 shipped to this country after having had the active portion extracted ; 

 that more than one-half of the cinnamon bark imported was nearly 

 tasteless because its virtue had been extracted by distillation in the 

 manufacture of the essential oil, and that the traffic in adulterated 

 drugs and medicines was increasing, although these fraudulent goods 

 were handled only occasionally by recognized dealers of standing, 

 these transactions being chiefly confined to commission houses where 

 "good, bad, and indifferent " drugs were kept " in quantities to suit 

 the purchasers." 



