Am.  Jour.  Fhaim.  > 
November,  1897.  / 
Editorial. 
611 
EDITORIAL. 
The  following  circular  letter  has  been  received  from  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture : 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 
Division  of  Chemistry. 
Washington,  D.  C,  September  17,  1S97. 
Dear  Sir: — Under  authority  of  Congress,  the  Department  of  Agriculture  is 
investigating  the  extent  and  character  of  food  and  drug  adulterations,  and  is 
desirous  of  securing  all  the  information  possible  on  the  subject.  Having  been 
appointed  special  agent  to  inquire  into  and  report  upon  this  matter,  the  under- 
signed writes  to  request  that  you  kindly  furnish  the  Department  all  the 
information  you  have  in  regard  to  adulterations,  together  with  any  sugges- 
tions as  to  the  best  remedy  for  the  evil. 
( 1)  Do  you  know  of  any  new  adulterant  ?    If  yes,  state  what,  and  how  used; 
(2)  Would  a  national  food  and  drug  law  assist  in  preventing  adulteration  ? 
(3)  Would  uniform  food,  drug  and  pharmaceutical  laws  tend  to  promote  effi- 
ciency and  purity  ?  (4)  Please  suggest  what  would  best  promote  the  interests 
of  consumers  and  legitimate  manufacturers  and  dealers ;  (5)  What  is  your 
opinion  as  to  the  extent  of  damage  done  legitimate  business  by  imitation  of 
brands,  packages,  etc.?  (6)  To  what  extent  do  sophistication,  misbranding  and* 
injurious  adulteration  exist?  (7)  Have  State  laws  aided  in  preventing  adul- 
teration ?  To  what  extent?  (8)  Would  a  national  law  assist  State  officials  in 
properly  executing  the  local  laws  ?  (9)  Have  adulteration,  sophistication  and 
misbranding  increased  or  decreased  ?  Prompt  replies  to  the  above,  together 
with  any  other  information  or  suggestions,  will  be  highly  appreciated. 
Yours  respectfully, 
A.  J.  WeddERBurn, 
Special  Agent. 
Approved  : 
James  Wieson, 
Secretary. 
We  confess  to  an  inability  to  answer  some  of  these  questions.  An  affirmative 
reply  to  2  and  3  and  a  correct  solution  of  4  would  leave  nothing  in  the  way  of 
worldly  success  and  happiness,  but  the  indifference  of  Congress  and  the  neglect 
of  that  body  to  pass  the  necessary  laws.  No.  7  we  would  respectfully  refer  to 
the  people  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 
We  predict  that  answers  to  all  the  queries  in  the  letter  will  come  in  slowly 
but  it  is  possible  that  they  may  lead  to  the  compilation  of  a  new  set  of  questions 
not  quite  so  comprehensive.  Certainly  the  Department  of  Agriculture  can  do 
no  better  work  than  collect  information  on  the  extent  and  character  of  food 
and  drug  adulteration,  and  individuals  may  feel  that  they  are  doing  a  public 
service  in  writing  to  the  special  agent,  answering  the  questions,  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, and  in  making  suggestions  as  he  requests. 
