ON FALSIFICATIONS AND ADULTERATIONS. 
17 
ART. XL— NOTES ON FALSIFICATIONS AND ADULTERA- 
TIONS. 
No. I. 
There is no species of fraud so criminal as that, which, 
prompted by a sordid desire after "filthy lucre," cheats man- 
kind out of life or health. It cannot be denied that this evil 
is rapidly increasing, and perhaps as much so in the depart- 
ment of Pharmacy as in any other. In this state of things 
the question naturally occurs, whether it be not the duty of 
the honest pharmaceutist and physician to do all that single 
or combined efforts can accomplish to protect the community 
from its effects. The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy has, 
at one time or another, taken up the subject, and the pages of 
its Journal will testify to the zealous endeavours of its 
members to raise the moral character of the profession, and 
purify the drug market from some of its most obvious pollu- 
tions. But their researches and expositions, except within 
the precincts of their own body, have scarcely been sufficient 
even to keep pace with the " natural increase and it would 
almost appear that we have become at length discouraged 
from any further contention against this many-headed mon- 
ster. But it cannot be supposed that the College of Pharmacy 
will really sit still, and quietly look on the progress of that 
evil, the prevention of which was one of the main objects of 
its institution. Its members have almost daily before their 
eyes instances of adulteration or falsification, the detection of 
which, if brought into public view, would produce a power- 
ful and salutary efiect ; and it is with the view of affording a 
channel for the exposure of these frauds, that I have ventured 
to commence the present series, in the hope that my fellow 
members will promptly aid in the attempt. I would invite 
VOL. III. NO. I. 3 
