298 
INSPECTION  OF  DRUGS. 
The  difference  in  the  practice  of  Examiners  at  the  various  Ports 
of  Entry  was  adverted  to  as  a  cause  of  annoyance.  The  opinion 
was  advanced  that,  unless  in  the  hands  of  competent  and  disinte- 
rested officers,  the  law  was  productive  of  more  evil  than  good  re- 
sults. It  cannot  be  disguised,  that,  as  at  present  administered  at 
this  port,  it  has  given  great  dissatisfaction,  occasioning  useless 
delays  and  unnecessary  loss  to  importers;  and,  in  many  instances, 
embarrassing  the  operations  of  trade  without  any  corresponding 
advantage  to  the  public. 
The  construction  given  to  that  passage  of  the  law  referring  to 
the  Pharmacopoeias  and  Dispensatories  as  standards,  was  a  subject 
of  discussion,  and  it  was  believed  advantage  would  result  from  a 
fuller  explanation  of  its  meaning  and  intent,  as  originally  designed 
by  its  framers. 
A  draft  of  a  memorial  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  proper  qualifications  for  the  office  of  Special  Examiner, 
was  submitted  by  Prof.  Procter,  and,  on  motion,  it,  together  with 
the  whole  subject  of  the  meaning  and  intent  of  the  law,  as  brought 
under  discussion  at  this  meeting,  was  referred  to  a  committee  of 
five,  which  was  appointed  by  the  chair,  as  follows:  Wm.  Proc- 
ter, Jr.,  Dr.  John  Harris,  Thos.  H.  Powers,  H.  C.  Blair  and  E, 
Parrish. 
On  motion,  It  was  furtber^resolved,  that  this  Committee  be 
authorized  to  send  two  delegates,  taken  from  the  College  at  large, 
to  deliver  the  memorial,  as  finally  perfected  by  them,  to  the  Hono- 
rable Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  to  represent  to  that  officer 
the  views  of  this  College  in  regard  to  the  intention  of  the  law  and 
its  proper  construction,  and  that  the  said  memorial  and  the  cre- 
dentials of  the  said  delegates  be  stamped  with  the  seal  of  the  Col- 
lege and  signed  by  its  proper  officers. 
On  motion,  it  was  also  resolved,  that  said  delegation  to  Wash- 
ington be  authorized  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  of  the  College  for 
the  amount  of  their  expenses  in  carrying  out  this  direction. 
Then  adjourned. 
Edward  Parrish,  Secretary  pro  tern. 
The  Committee  to  whom  the  memorial,  etc.,  was  referred,  met 
at  the  College  Hall  on  Tuesday,  the  31st  of  May,  at  4  o'clock, 
P.  M.,  and  having  carefully  revised  the  memorial  referred  to  them, 
and  considered  the  sense  of  the  Special  Meeting  as  related  to  in- 
