755 
The means had been provided by which any interested person, 
whether a mere private purchaser or a representative of the health 
department, could procure an analysis, the ordinary purchaser under 
any circumstances, but the representative of the health department 
only when he suspected that the sale had been made in violation 
of law. Further than this nothing was done. The Commissioner 
of Internal Revenue waited for the health officer. The health officer 
waited for the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The result was 
inevitable. 
In his report for 1889, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue 
writes : 
No samples were submitted to me for analysis as provided by that act (act of 
October 12, 1888). This office is of the opinion that the failure to forward 
samples of suspected food for analysis may be ascribed to the apathy of the 
general public and that of the health department of the District of Columbia. 0 
One sample was received in 1891, but the nature or origin of it is 
not set forth. Two samples of milk were analyzed in 1892, but as to 
the origin the report is silent. * 6 
The act making appropriations for the expenses of the District of 
Columbia, approved July 14, 1892, authorized the appointment of 
“ one sanitary and food inspector, who shall also inspect dairy prod- 
ucts and shall be a practical chemist.” On July 28, of the same year, 
John D. Hird was appointed and entered upon the discharge of his 
duties. The makeshift for a chemical laboratory that was then pro- 
vided was not ready for use until December, but no effort was made 
even during the interval to operate under the food and drugs act of 
October 12, 1888. c After the laboratory was ready for use successful 
prosecutions were brought under District ordinances, for the sale of 
colored milk and of milk that had been watered, but it was found that 
these ordinances provided no penalty for the sale of skimmed milk. 
Recourse was thereupon had to the act of Congress of October 12, 
1888, relating to the manufacture and sale of adulterated foods and 
drugs in the District of Columbia, and to facilitate the operations of 
the health officer, the Secretary of the Treasury designated the chem- 
ist of the health department as an analyst to make analyses under the 
provisions of that act.^ The Commissioner of Internal Revenue, in 
his report for 1894, writes: 
The act of October 12, 1888, to prevent the manufacture or sale of adulter- 
ated foods or drugs in the District of Columbia, imposes upon this office the 
duty of analyzing all samples submitted for decision as to their character. 
No provision has been made, since the first year of its passage, for increasing 
° Report of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1889, p. 175. 
6 Report of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1892, p. 205. 
c Report of the Health Officer, 1893, p. 10. 
d Report of the Health Officer, 1893, pp. 10, 11. Instructions to Internal 
Revenue Officers, Series 7, No. 15, Revised, p. 9. August 10, 1893. 
