18 



It would be interesting, did space permit, to go more fully into detail 

 so as to show a comparison of various adulterations after the enactment 

 of the anti-adulteration statutes in New York State, but this can not be 

 done here, and my observations lead me to conclude that the failure to 

 enact Federal laws render the local laws to a great extent ineffectual, 

 and inoperative. 



NECESSITY FOR PUBLICATION. 



The failure to make public all adulterations makes the practice more 

 common than under a system by which the manipulator understood that 

 his practices would be thoroughly published. 



DRUGS. 



Prof. W. G. Tucker, in his report (page 250, report 1888) shows the 

 result of 326 samples of various drugs, as follows : 



Good quality 140, or 43. per cent. 



Fair quality 44, or 13. 3 per cent. 



Inferior 79, or 24.2 per cent. 



Not as called for 63, or 19. 3 per cent. 



The latter 63 samples, designated "not as called for," show simply 

 the fairness of the examiner, as, while containing adulterants, benefit of 

 the doubt is given to the compounder or seller, whether the article was 

 sold through ignorance or mistake. The fact established is that out of 

 326 samples examined only 140 were pure, and 79 came under the head- 

 ing of " inferior," which the writer says is used in the report to desig- 

 nate articles " if not clearly adulterated or falsified, lacking in any im- 

 portant constituent, deficient in strength from improper manufacture, 

 partial or complete decomposition, or other causes, or containing undue 

 amount of impurity." 



It was shown that in the purchase of samples great care was taken 

 in each and every instance, a written order was tendered, which order 

 gave in full the official names of the articles called for and the amounts 

 desired. 



In closing his report Professor Tucker says : 



That the work done during the past two years has had a decided effect in improv- 

 ing the quality of drugs sold throughout the State, there can be no doubt, and if man- 

 ufacturers, dealers, and others interested will co-operate with the board in the efforts 

 it is making to raise the standard of the drugs and medical preparations now upon 

 the market, the desired end can be obtained without interfering with any legitimate 

 business industry, or embarrassing dealers by a too rigid or oppressive enforcement 

 of the law. 



QUININE, MORPHINE, AND IRON. 



In the report to board of health, New York, October 31, 1887, by Prof. 

 G. C. Caldwell, speaking of the assays made in morphine, quinine, and 

 iron pills, he says : 



By the methods used, giving every fair advantage to the dealer, few of the juor- 

 phiue pills came up to the standard, 



