QUALITY AND PURITY OF VEGETABLE DRUGS 31 



Since the adoption of the federal pure food and drugs act, every 

 state in the union has adopted a similar act, usually a close copy of 

 the federal act, and administered by some state commission, bureau, 

 or department. The state administration is not uniform. In one 

 state the law is administered by the Board of Health, in another by the 

 Dairying Commission, in another by the Veterinary Commission, in 

 another the work is divided, the pure food law under the Board of Health, 

 while the drugs law is under the Board of Pharmacy. Some states 

 administer the law excellently, while others administer it very laxly or 

 indifferently. Some states have an equipment which cannot be 

 excelled, while in other states the equipment is wholly inadequate. 

 The cooperation between state and federal authorities is, as a rule, 

 quite close. 



The following is an outline of the Bureau of Chemistry machinery 

 which is operative in enforcing the Pure Food and Drugs Act of June 

 30. 1906, and all amendments thereto. 



Chief and Assistant Chief of the Bureau, at Washington. 



Two Chief Chemists, one for foods and one for drugs, at Washing- 

 ton. 



Chief of the Micro-Chemical Laboratory, at Washington. 



Chief Chemist in charge of the Main or Check Laboratory, at 

 Washington, with a corps of assistants. 



Analytical Laboratories, at the larger ports and commercial centers 

 in the United States. Each laboratory has a chief of the laboratory 

 or station chief. 



Analysts, mostly chemists, with an occasional microanalyst and 

 bacteriologist. 



Chief Inspector, at Washington. 



Corps of Inspectors. These are assigned to the various laboratories 

 and their work was formerly directed by the chief of inspectors in 

 Washington. 



United States District Attorneys and assistants, in different judi- 

 cial districts, who direct the court proceeding against violators of the 

 law. 



Pharmacognosists and other Specialists, usually attached to one 

 of the sub-laboratories or station laboratories. 



The inspectors are empowered to secure samples of drugs and medi- 

 camenta presented for entry at any port or such as are intended for 

 interstate commerce. Federal inspectors have no jurisdiction over 

 articles intended for intrastate commerce only. Three samples of 

 each article are taken, all duly sealed, numbered (Inspector's serial 

 number I. S. No.) and recorded. One sample is left with the firm 



