.20 
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ADULTERATIONS, ETC. 
and barks sold in the shops, were largely adulterated in many in- 
stances, and that of these ipecacuanha was especially inert. The 
roots, leaves, barks, seeds, and flowers, he found to be tf generally 
far inferior in quality to the same articles kept for city sale by 
eastern druggists.' The alkaloid's and their salts, as quinia, 
strychnia, morphia, &c, manifested less of intentional fraud. Ni- 
trate of silver was of various degrees of purity, and of correspond- 
ing price. The vegetable extracts were exceedingly variable in 
quality and effects ; and a like inferiority was noticed in the essen- 
tial oils, as well as in various other articles." 
We are sorry to see this additional testimony to the existence of 
a practice of which the druggists of the Eastern cities have been 
accused. Whether it arises from the disposition to buy cheap on 
the part of the Western drug dealer, or to sell cheap, or practice 
fraud on the side of the Eastern druggist, we do not know. Ex- 
tensive observations by the chairman in Philadelphia, and some 
inquiry in New York, have satisfied him that adulterations are 
looked upon with greater disfavor, and actually less practiced than 
formerly. The same he believes to be true in Boston, and probably 
in other cities. If this be a fact, there must yet remain some black 
sheep to render the statement of the St. Louis member of the com- 
mittee, correct and true. The practice of certain druggists of re- 
spectable character, of keeping two qualities, or strengths of galeni- 
cal preparations, is alluded to with just disapproval. Articles like 
laudanum, nitrate of silver, and spirit of nitric ether, are weakened 
by dilution to suit customers. This practice, if it yet continues to 
exist, is certainly a great evil. Large quantities of preparations 
like those mentioned, are sold by country store keepers, who obtain 
them from druggists in the city stores. Being no judges them- 
selves, and accustomed to buy on the cheap principle, without un- 
derstanding or feeling the responsibility which should ever attach 
itself to the dealer in medicines, these store keepers are a fruitful 
source of the practice alluded to. 
The report alludes to the adulterations of powdered vegetable 
drugs. In this item there has been a very decided improvement 
of late years. With Dr. Huston, we think that the present imper- 
fections in the preparations, are more the result of powdering in- 
ferior qualities of the several drugs, than of any admixture of cheap 
inert matter, although this may yet be done in some instances. — 
