Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  1 
March,  1907.  J 
The  Food  and  Drugs  Act. 
1 1 1 
to  show  you  that  the  effect  of  the  law  is  being  felt  by  those  who 
have  made  themselves  amenable  to  it. 
One  important  feature  must  be  remembered.  It  is  this :  On 
every  package  of  foodstuff  or  drug  put  up  under  the  new  law,  the 
words  "  Guaranteed  under  the  U.  S.  Food  and  Drugs  Act,  June  30, 
1906,  Serial  No.  "  appears.    This  is  being  used  in  such  a  way 
as  to  make  it  appear  that  the  Government  in  some  unknown  way 
stands  sponsor  for  the  quality  of  the  substance,  when  in  truth  it  is 
but  a  compliance  with  that  part  of  the  Act,  Sec.  9,  which  says : — 
<l  No  dealer  shall  be  prosecuted  under  the  provisions  of  this  act 
when  he  can  establish  a  guarantee  signed  by  the  wholesaler,  jobber, 
manufacturer,  or  other  party  residing  in  the  United  States,  from 
whom  he  purchases  such  article,  to  the  effect  that  the  same  is  not 
adulterated  or  misbranded  within  the  meaning  of  this  act  designating 
it." 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  guaranty  means  nothing  more  than 
the  word  of  the  manufacturer  that  he  will  be  responsible  in  case  of 
prosecution,  and  I  fear  that  not  a  few  of  the  guarantees  at  present 
published  are  given  without  due  regard  to  facts,  in  the  hope  that  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  with  the  tremendous  task  confronting 
it  of  putting  the  rules  and  regulations  into  practice,  may  be  a  long 
while  reaching  some  of  these  articles. 
Meanwhile  many  persons  will  be  deluded  into  purchasing  such 
articles  in  the  belief  that  the  phrase  referred  to  is  evidence  that  the 
Government  is  responsible  for  the  claims  made,  when  in  point  of  fact 
nothing  of  the  kind  is  meant. 
An  instance  recently  coming  to  my  attention,  presumably  of  this 
kind,  is  that  of  an  article  which  is  being  advertised  in  the  prominent 
daily  newspapers  in  the  form  of  reading  notices  (a  most  reprehen- 
sible form  of  advertising)  as  a  remedy  for  consumption  and  bron- 
chial affections.  An  examination  of  the  substance  shows  it  to  be  a 
fictitious  product  containing  oil  of  turpentine,  gum  turpentine,  with 
evident  traces  of  copaiba  and  sandalwood.  It  bears  a  label  which 
indicates  a  somewhat  mixed  origin,  as  two  widely  differing  plants  of 
the  pine  family  are  included  in  the  botanical  name  which  is  given 
for  it. 
In  the  regulation  of  the  narcotic  drugs,  such  as  opium  and  its 
derivatives,  morphine,  cocaine,  etc.,  a  wonderful  step  has  been  taken. 
If  the  public  could  realize  the  harm  that  has  been  done  to  persons 
