72 
SELECTED ARTICLES. 
society of all the apothecaries' shops in England and Wales, 
takes place but once a year, (we are told that this search never 
took place,) is not that still less efficacious than the search that 
you made together with the physicians? Yes, I must admit 
that. Are your visitors provided with tests, or any other 
means of making extemporary trial of the purity of any arti- 
cles in the Materia Medica? Some few tests that apply to 
specific medicines; poisonous medicines, for example, and 
medicines of specific virtues. Does the search, — either that 
which you make singly, or that which you make in company 
with the physicians, — afford to the public any reasonable de- 
gree of security against the sale of bad or spurious medicines? 
I think not, if the disposition existed to sell such medicines." 
— Evidence of John Nussey, Esq. pp. 38. 68. 
In this case we find a most important duty in some cases 
altogether neglected and within a limited district performed 
in a most careless and inefficient manner. Mr. Nussey makes 
an attempt to palliate this negligence by stating, ^r^^, that 
the law is inefficient; secondly, that it is useless and would 
be so in any case, in consequence of its being impossible to 
convict the guilty; and thirdly ^th^i the general practitioners 
are of such standing and acquirements, as to place them above 
suspicion. He is then forced to assert that such searches do 
some little good, even when conducted on the present absurd 
plan, and that more good would be effected if the search were 
to be more effectual. Last of all, to revert to his first stated 
opinion that the search does not give the public any reason- 
able degree of security against the sale of bad or spurious 
medicines, omitting all consideration of these contradictory 
opinions, unbecoming the head of a society invested with so 
extensive powers, we cannot see upon what principle the 
incorporation are justified in not fulfilling a duty positively 
imposed upon them by law; or if they possess a dispensing 
power, upon what principle they refuse to exercise it in other 
cases where it would be attended with positive advantage to 
the community. 
