38 



that tlie person who eats so promiscuous and lively a mixture as the butterin exam- 

 ined is running great risk, morally as well as physically. The peace and happiness 

 of future generations are greatly involved in the life of the present generation. By 

 indulging in our homes in articles of food filled with spores and seeds of the various 

 classes of the lower organisms we are increasing the dangers of parasitism. 

 Spores that are now harmless may, by gradual adaptation, through more or less cir- 

 cuitous routes, become inimical to the health and happiness of countless millions." 



In a letter to Hon. W. S. Mason, mayor of Portland, Oreg., Hon. W. 

 W. Baker says : 



In February, 1891, Avhen I assumed the duties of Oregon State food commissioner, 

 I found that my predecessor had not required retailers, hotels, and restaurants to 

 comply Avith our law regarding dairy products, and as a consequence our markets 

 were full of oleomargarin. In addition to this, I found that no special require- 

 ments had been demanded of milk supply dairymen, and as a consequence a very 

 large proportion of the milk and cream was adulterated. A vigorous enforcement 

 of our law soon knocked out the oleomargarin and to a very great extent brought 

 to consumers a good quality of milk. My report shows that there were hut two 

 wholesale oleomargarin licenses and no retail license taken out to sell the "stuff'' 

 in this State during my two years' term, and, indeed, most of that which had been 

 licensed was still in the wholesalers' hands when my term expired. But during the 

 succeeding thirty days the whole stock was " dumped," and liorne butter declined 

 from 7| to 15 cents per pound. No effort has been made to discover whether or not 

 there was any adulterated cheese. My report also shows that a constant vigilance 

 was required to force a supply of good, pure, normal milk. 



That there is much adulterated food in our market there is no question I figure 

 that at least 15 per cent of all foods but as to how much of it is adulterated with 

 injurious ingredients I have no means of knowing, for the reason that I had no 

 funds at my command to make satisfactory investigations. 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



From Alonzo Bobbins, president of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceuti- 

 cal Examining Board, Eleventh and Vine streets, Philadelphia, Pa. : 



You may remember that some time ago I handed to you a copy of last year's pro- 

 ceedings of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association, in which are recorded 

 my own efforts to enforce the present State law against adulterations. The results 

 are not such as to'encourage me to hope for substantial success until the various 

 State laws are supported by a vigorous national law. 



From J. A. Miller, secretary of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical 

 Association, Harrisburg, Pa.: 



The pharmaceutical examining board is required to prosecute all cases of adultera- 

 tion of drugs and medicines. So far the only cases prosecuted have been for the 

 adulteration of laudanum. 



Extract from report of committee on adulterations and deterioration, 

 fifteenth annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Associa- 

 tion (pp. 39, 40) : 



It Avas not considered of any profit to gather drugs and preparations from differ- 

 ent stores and have them analyzed, as this work has been so fully done by Prof. 

 Trimble and the students working under him, that \ve all fully recognize that there 

 is quite a want of conformity to the U. S. Pharmacopeia, which in some cases 

 amounts to more than neglect, indeed, must be called a crime. 



