CONTROL OF IMPORTS. 17 



substitutes therefor. However, any adulterated or impoverished 

 article of food, if plainly labeled to indicate the fact that it has been 

 so treated, is not subject to these provisions. 



The analyses of samples taken by the commissioners of customs 

 are always made by the Government chemists at the bureau of 

 inland revenue, and in thig way also their work is differentiated from 

 the work of the local authorities, who use the local analysts, except 

 under conditions which will be outlined later. 



In the annual report of the Local Government Board for 1909-10 

 it is stated that there are 233 districts for which this board has 

 approved of the appointment of analysts for the purpose of making 

 examinations under the sale of food and drugs act. These analysts 

 examined during the course of the year 1909 a total of 97,985 samples 

 collected in England and Wales. In 1908, 95,664 samples were 

 collected, 8,169 were reported adversely, legal proceedings were 

 begun in 3,643 cases, and penalties imposed by the courts in 2,673 

 cases. During 1908 there were 8,827 samples collected in Scotland 

 and 9,694 in 1909. 



It is pointed out in the annual report of the Local Government 

 Board for 1907-8 "that these trifling fines, against which legal 

 authorities have often protested, are useless for the purpose of 

 repressing adulterations." In the United States, in addition to the 

 fines which may be imposed, there is provided by law an effective 

 deterrent, namely, the publication by the Government of notices of 

 judgments of the courts; and liability to imprisonment on convic- 

 tion for second and subsequent offenses. 



It is almost needless to say that the results given indicate that 

 the sale of food and drugs acts have accomplished and are accom- 

 plishing splendid work in Great Britain and are being ably admin- 

 istered. One noticeable feature is the fact that many of the cases 

 are closely contested in the courts, while in the United States, under 

 the Federal law this occurs less often. In order, however, to make 

 such a comparison satisfactory the results obtained under the various 

 State laws would have to be included. 



TEA, DRUGS, AND OTHER PRODUCTS. 



Three thousand two hundred and eighty-nine drugs were examined 

 during the year 1908. Of this number 287, or 9 per cent, were found 

 to be adulterated. The largest number of examinations were of cam- 

 phorated oil (504 samples), cream of tartar (245 samples), and powdered 

 licorice (184 samples). 



While the greatest activity, as in previous years, was confined to 

 the examination of dairy products and their substitutes, yet a con- 

 siderable number of other food products were examined by the public 

 analysts, including baking powder, fish, honey, olive oils, spices, sirup 



