78 
VARIETIES. 
ferred  to  the  May  number  of  your  valuable  Journal.  It  is  a  test  so  perfect, 
so  scientifically  practical,  and  so  simple  withal,  that  any  one  possessing  only 
a  moderate  share  of  chemical  and  analytical  acumen  can  successfully  apply 
it,  even  though  perchance  he  may  not  be  able  to  boast  of  wearing  the 
mantle  of  the  departed  Berzelius,  or  of  having  been  a  favorite  pupil  of 
Liebig. 
The  law  went  into  operation  at  this  port  on  the  12th  day  of  July,  1848, 
and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  as  a  cause  of  gratulation  on  the  part  of  the 
early  friends  of  the  measure,  that  the  importation  of  inferior  and  worthless 
qualities  of  many  important  drugs  and  medicines,  has  since  gradually  and 
greatly  decreased  in  quantity.   For  instance,  I  rejected  during  the  first 
seven  months  of  the  working  of  the  law  19,989  pounds  of  Rhubarb  root ; 
but  I  have  since  rejected  only  5,782  pounds,  being  but  a  fraction  over  one- 
third  of  the  quantity.    For  the  past  eighteen  months,  I  have  not  had  occa- 
sion to  reject  a  single  pound.  I  rejected  during  the  first  nine  months,  3,347 
pounds  of  opium  ;  but  have  since,  during  a  period  of  more  than  two  years 
and  a  half  of  my  administration  of  the  law,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  above 
statement,  rejected  only  3,164  pounds.    For  the  past  thirteen  months  I 
have  rejected  only  nine  hundred  and  fifty-two  pounds,  while  I  have  passed 
during  that  period  not  less  than  70,000  pounds.    During  the  first  two 
months  of  the  operation  of  the  law,  I  rejected  1,414  pounds  of  gamboge, 
but  have  since  met  with  that  only  which  I  was  ready  to  pass  without  any 
hesitation.    During  the  first  nine  months  I  rejected  2,977  pounds  of  gum 
myrrh,  but  all  that  has  since  been  presented  to  entry  at  this  port,  I  have 
found  satisfactory.    Thus  might  I  continue,  but  time  and  space  will  not 
permit.    Enough  I  opine,  has  been  said  and  shown  to  satisfy  even  the  most 
prejudiced  and  sceptical  opponent  of  this  wise  measure,  that  if  faithfully 
and  judiciously  administered  and  seconded  with  becoming  zeal  and  honesty 
of  purpose  by  the  medical  profession,  the  pharmaceutist  and  dispensing  apo- 
thecary, it  is  calculated  and  destined  to  elfect  most  beneficial  and  lasting  sani- 
tary reforms  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  our  vast  and  glorious 
land.    In  a  word,  the  law  has  operated  thus  far  remarkably  well,  consider- 
ing the  hasty  manner  in  which  it  was  framed  and  passed  through  Con- 
gress. It  is  in  some  respects  imperfect,  as  must  ever  be  the  case  with  all  new 
measures  of  legislation  until  their  utility  is  tested  by  practical  operation ; 
but  these  imperfections  were,  some  time  since,  brought  to  the  attention  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  who,  with  his  accustomed  promptitude,  soon 
after  instructed  me  to  report  to  the  Department  such  modifications  and 
suggestions  as  my  experience  in  the  administration  of  the  law  should  dic- 
tate as  most  desirable,  practicable  and  judicious  ;  and,  notwithstanding  thi& 
important  and  responsible  trust  has  necessarily  been  made  the  subject  of 
the  few  occasional  leisure  moments  I  could  from  time  to  time  command, 
apart  from  other  official  duties,  it  is  nearly  completed,  and,  in  a  manner 
too,  as  I  have  reason  to  believe,  that  will  render  the  law,  when  amended  as 
