596 ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS. 
and in the eyes of foreign countries. Though, happily, very 
many refuse, under every temptation, to falsify the quality of 
their wares, there are, unfortunately, large numbers who, 
though reluctantly practising deception, yield to the pernicious 
contagion of example, or to the hard pressure of competition 
forced upon them by their less scrupulous neighbours/ 5 
(Here follows a list of the principal articles adulterated, as 
already given.) 
“The adulteration of drugs is extensively practised ; and 
when it is borne in mind that the correctness of a medical 
prescription rests on an assumed standard of strength and 
purity in the drugs or compounds employed, and how fre- 
quently life itself depends upon the efficacy of the medicines 
prescribed, it is difficult to exaggerate the evils arising from 
this prevalent fraud. 
“These adulterations may be classified under three heads, 
— those of which the object is to lower the price of the article 
adulterated, by the admixture of substances of a cheaper 
kind ; those which are intended to improve the appearance 
of the adulterated article, and thus in many cases to deceive 
the public as to its quality; and those which are practised 
for the purpose of simulating some property injured or de- 
stroyed in the process of adulteration. 
“ Adulterations in each of these classes are of two kinds,— 
those in which are employed substances of an innocuous 
character; and those in which the mixtures are more or less 
injurious to health, either directly by the noxious properties 
of the ingredients, or indirectly by lowering the nutritive 
qualities of the article adulterated. 
“ In dealing with these various adulterations, it is necessary 
to distinguish between the pecuniary fraud practised on the 
public, and the injury to public health. If, as regards the 
adulteration of articles with substances of a cheaper and 
innocuous character, the public derive the full benefit of this 
cheapness in a lower price, it would be difficult, if not unwise, 
for the Legislature to interfere, unless it could do so by 
requiring that every such article be sold as a mixture, as 
distinguished from the article in its pure state. This the law 
already requires as to the article of coffee, and also as to the 
article of bread, w hich, unless made of w'heat-flour alone, must 
be distinctly marked with the letter ‘M. 5 But, whenever an 
article is so adulterated as to involve pecuniary fraud or injury 
to health, it appears to your committee to be the duty of the 
Legislature to provide some efficient remedy. 
“ It has been objected that the best course would be to 
leave the buyer to take care of himself. But there are many 
