48 



of a conviction under it. Nevertheless, it is hardly possible that there are no adul- 

 terated drugs in Wisconsin. 



The members of the commission framed a bill that was introduced into the legis- 

 lature of this year, but it died in the hands of a committee after vigorous opposition 

 from some of the leading drug firms of the State. 



This measure was practically a copy of the laws now in force in Ohio, New York, 

 and New Jersey, and, like the laws of these States, referred the standard of drugs to 

 the United States Pharmacopoeia. 



The writer had occasion several times to champion the measure and found the 

 great objection to' the section that treated upon drugs to be as follows: It was 

 argued that if the bill became a law and any drug should differ very slightly from 

 the prescribed limits of the Pharmacopoeia, the druggist dispensing the same would 

 be liable to a prosecution maliciously instituted by a business rival or a personal 

 enemy. While this objection seems to carry some weight upon its face, it must be 

 remembered that the Pharmacopoeia itself permits some variability in drugs, and in 

 the matter of a tincture, for example, before a suit could be tried, its strength or 

 quality would necessarily have to be determined by a chemist or other expert, and 

 to him it would quickly become apparent whether the article had been fraudulently 

 tampered with or whether the variation from the standard was an unavoidable one 

 and originated through some natural cause, and by no fault of the maker. 



The members of this commission are strongly in favor of a law that will " compel 

 the branding of articles of food and drugs shipped from one State into another. " 



The need of such a Jaw is daily apparent in our work. We can have, recourse upon 

 a manufacturer within the confines of our State who makes spurious goods, but if he 

 locates just over the State line we can direct our attacks upon his goods only against 

 the retailer, who is generally innocent of any intent to deceive his customers and is 

 himself a victim of the manufacturer. 



From W. F. Montgomery, druggist and pharmacist, Appleton, Wis. : 



In cheese-making there is some cream or brick cheese made with old butter, poor 

 cheese, and a little cream to work them up with, which gives it the beautiful odor 

 usually found around a free-lunch counter. 



In regard to children's food, all the dry food on the market that I have seen and 

 tested is all right. But it must be kept air-tight and in a cool, dry place. All the 

 condensed milks or foods in market are dangerous articles for the use of children. 

 In fact, the Government had better offer a premium to every mother to feed her chil- 

 dren in the natural way; our country would grow physically, hence mentally. 



Most of the cry of adulteration of infants' foods throughout the country is made 

 by poor M. D. quacks and cranks. When called to see children that are ailing, not 

 having ability to diagnose the disease, they add more to the little child's suffering 

 by advising the mother to change the food, and then if the child dies, the last food 

 given was adulterated, so as to let the doctor out. 



From George E. Banks, Tomah, Wis. : 



As to adulteration, I find marked instances in commercial cream of tartar, 

 bicarbonate of soda, and so-called olive oils. 



From 0. W. Wright, druggist, Platteville, Wis. : 



There is a large amount of butter color used here. 



I have made but few examinations of drugs for adulterations, as my original 

 work has been in organic chemistry. The only cases that have come under my notice 

 are as follows : 



(1) Gum asafetida, in which small pieces of flint were used to represent the " tears " 

 of the true gum. At least 50 per cent of the sample I had waa earthy Batter. 



(2) Glycerin, such brands as are usually quoted at about 14 QT- 15 cents a, pound. I 





