ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS. 597 
adulterations which it is impossible for the buyer to detect. 
Already the law takes note of frauds in weights and measures, 
of injuries likely to result to the public health from the sale 
of unwholesome animal food, and, indeed, of many adultera- 
tions, though in most cases only with a view to fiscal con- 
siderations, and not to those of a moral or sanitary cha- 
racter. 
“ It is said, too, that there are many frauds which legisla- 
tion cannot reach or punish. But, on the other hand, it 
would be difficult to tell the numberless frauds which legisla- 
tion may prevent. 
“ The great difficulty of legislating on this subject lies in 
putting an end to the liberty of fraud without affecting the 
freedom of commerce. 
“ With a view to form an opinion as to the best remedy for 
this growing evil, your committee have obtained evidence 
as to the law on adulterations in other countries, and espe- 
cially in France, Belgium, Germany, and the United States. 
In this object your committee have been materially assisted 
by returns procured through the kindness of Lord Clarendon 
from some of our Ministers at foreign Courts. 
“As to the present state of the law in this country, your 
committee received much valuable information from Mr. 
S. R. Goodman, the legal adviser to the justices of the city 
of London. 
“The following is a brief statement of the laws of different 
countries on the subject of adulterations 
The laws enacted in other countries are here detailed. 
After which the committee proceed to say, that, in framing a 
measure applicable to adulterations generally — 
“ It is impossible to frame any enactment on this subject 
which shall rely on strict definitions. The object of the law 
is to strike at fraud, and wherever a fraudulent intention can 
be proved, there to inflict a penalty. What constitutes 
fraud must be left to the interpretation of the administrators 
of the law. Thus, mixtures of an innocuous character, made 
known by the seller, or used for the preservation of the 
article, cannot be forbidden without danger to the needful 
freedom of commerce, and ought not to be interpreted as 
coming within the provisions of a penal law. Nor should 
those provisions apply wherever the seller can afford satis- 
factory proof that he has himself been deceived, and was not 
conscious of the adulteration practised ; unless he have 
evinced a culpable ignorance of the trade which he professes 
to follow. 
“ Subject to these qualifications, the law should be clear 
