INSPECTION  OF  DRUGS. 
299 
structing  the  deputation  to  be  sent  to  Washington,  concluded  their 
labors  by  the  appointment  of  Daniel  B.  Smith,  President  of  the 
College,  and  William  Procter,  Jr.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  to 
that  service. 
MEMORIAL. 
"To  the  Hon.  James  Guthrie,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States,  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  respectfully  represent: 
That  their  Institution  was  established  more  than  thirty  years  ago, 
through  the  public  spirit  of  a  number  of  the  Apothecaries  and 
Druggists  of  Philadelphia,  and  incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of 
Pennsylvania,  with  the  design  of  improving  the  character  of  the 
drug  and  apothecary  business,  and  for  affording  a  better  and  more 
scientific  education  to  the  younger  members  of  their  profession  ;  and 
now  includes  a  large  number  of  the  best  educated  pharmaceutists 
cf  that  city.  This  College,  feeling  themselves  intrusted  with  a  care 
for  that  part  of  the  public  weal  involved  in  the  preparation  and  dis- 
pensing of  medicines,  and  consequently  with  the  condition  of  the 
drug  market,  (upon  the  soundness  of  which  the  healthy  condition 
of  pharmacy  much  depends,)  did,  for  many  years  previous  to  the 
enactment  of  theDrug  Law,  appoint  annually  a  "Committee  of  In- 
spection," whose  duty  it  was  to  keep  a  watch  over  the  character  of 
the  drug  market,  and  warn  its  members  through  their  published 
Journal  of  the  existence  therein  of  spurious  or  deteriorated  drugs. 
They  have  also  interested  themselves,  from  time  to  time,  in  special 
measures  having  the  same  object,  and  more  especially,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  other  Colleges  of  Pharmacy,  in  regard  to  the  *fict  of 
Congress  requiring  the  inspection  of  imported  drugs.  Since  the 
passage  of  that  law,  they  have  watched  its  influence  on  the  quality 
of  drug  importations,  and  have  been  gratified  with  the  improvement 
that  has  occurred  in  many  particulars;  yet  they  are  forced  to  admit 
that  inferior  qualities  of  drugs  do  gain  admittance  into  the  country, 
and  that  serious  and  perplexing  difficulties  have  occurred  at  several 
of  the  ports,  owing  to  the  variable  construction  of  the  law  by  the 
Examiners,  by  which  honestly  disposed  importers  have  been  incon- 
venienced and  annoyed,  and  have  suffered  considerable  losses  from 
delay  and  the  expenses  incident  to  a  reconsideration  of  the  Exam- 
iner's decision. 
Believing  that  the  practical  value  of  the  law  to  the  well  disposed 
druggist  and  apothecary,  and  to  the  physician,  and  its  usefulness 
through  these  to  the  community,  depends  in  a  great  degree  on  the 
knowledge  and  faithfulness  of  the  Examiners,  we  feel  called  upon 
respectfully,  yet  earnestly,  to  urge  on  your  attention,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  the  appointing  power,  the  importance  of  a  close  scrutiny 
into  the  qualifications  of  these  officers  for  the  highly  responsible 
duties  assigned  to  them ;  and  we  feel  assured  that  in  pointing  out 
