108 
It must be noted that two fundamental objects are sought in 
the administration of our present food and drugs law. The first 
is to save the purchaser from getting something which is either 
ane injurious, or which lacks the value to him which it 
ossess. There is no real difference of opinion as to the 
nee of carrying on this part of the campaign. The sec- 
ond is to exclude what is known as the “‘ intent to deceive,” even 
though such deception does not result in any injury to the pur- 
chaser; even though it might perhaps confer a greater material 
benefit upon him than if the deception had not been practiced. 
To the unthinking mind, the last mentioned offense is apt to be 
lightly regarded and it is against its suppression that the chief 
activity of commercial critics has been directed. To the moralist, 
however, this offence is rightly regarded as worse by far than the 
° 
— 
mere infliction of some material injury. It is here that the great 
contest is being waged at the present time. Some influential 
¢ authorities under the federal government are being misled into 
winking at, and in some cases openly sustaining, the most flagrant 
acts of deception, while others are stoutly contending that this 
feature of the law is deserving of the most earnest support. 
I desire specially, before leaving this subject, to bring forcibly 
to your attention the fact that there is in operation such a power- 
ful, systematic and sustained attempt at improvement as I have 
referred to ; that its methods of investigation are as reliable as its 
motives are sincere, and that when it delivers an opinion to you, 
you are justified, in the main, in accepting the same as sound, in 
spite of any protestations to the contrary by those who are either 
self-interested, or irresponsible and ignorant of the facts. This 
is not saying that mistakes cannot occur, but in so far as you 
yourselves lack information, it is necessary that you should trust 
in some one, and I would urge you to give your confidence and 
support to a movement that is being most intelligently and con- 
scientiously carried on. 
Reminding you that, as an institution, our interest in this sub- 
ject is purely botanical, I will refer to three methods for determin- 
ing the purity and quality of our foods and drugs. The first is 
that of practical trial, foods being supplied to animals and the 
