4 
ON MERCURIAL PREPARATIONS. 
The mercury contained in all the specimens was found 
to be of fair merchantable quality. Considerable differ- 
ence was observed in the consistency of the various speci- 
mens of blue pill mass, but as far as the method of analysis 
pursued would admit, no article was found in any of the 
compounds which would exert an improper influence upon 
their medical effects. 
Your committee beg leave to remark, that the variations 
in strength of both the above articles, offered for sale in 
this city, may lead to serious inconveniences in the results 
of their administration. But they are not inclined to at- 
tribute the deficiencies, in all cases, so much to a disposition 
to defraud, on the part of the manufacturers, as to a 
necessity imposed on them by many of the wholesale 
dealers, who are continually pressing them to furnish articles 
that may be sold at a less price than those could be which 
contain the full portion of the active ingredients prescribed 
by the Pharmacopoeia. At the same time your committee 
wish to express the strong sense they entertain of the impro- 
priety of sending out, for the use of the sick, preparations 
so discordant with the proper standard, and so insufficient 
in their strength. Manufacturers ought also, for their own 
interest, to refuse to comply with such proposals, for they 
must be aware, that frequently such articles are resold 
upon the credit of their respective names, and if one parcel 
should fall into hands capable of examining it, an imputa- 
tation will be fixed on the maker which will not easily be 
effaced ; or, if compelled to such a course, they ought to 
fix on each package an indelible mark expressing the real 
strength of the article therein contained. 
It may not be out of place here to state, that sundry 
other preparations in this market are equally faulty with 
those already examined. Your committee particularly advert 
to the various Vegetable Alkaloids, Sulphuric Ether, Sweet 
Spirits of Nitre, Solution of Ammonia, Nitrate of Silver, and 
various essential oils, which are well known to be sold to 
