ON IMPORTATIONS OF IODINE. 201 
Considering that the presence of a small quantity of water 
in commercial iodine is neither designed nor calculated to 
deceive as to its quality ; considering also that it is not an 
addition to the article, but a want, of perfection in the pro- 
cess of its purification, it seems hardly a correct application 
of language to designate it as either an "adulteration" or 
"deterioration," considering, moreover, that this article 
may be advantageously employed, when of ascertained 
strength, in a variety of pharmaceutical preparations, still 
less can it fall within the category of drugs "impro- 
per, unsafe or dangerous to be used for medicinal pur- 
poses." 
From a sincere desire to establish for our city a high 
standard of excellence in its imported drugs without bear- 
ing too severely upon the honest importer, the limit of mois- 
ture in commercial iodine was fixed at five per cent., — a 
purely arbitrary point, but one which was believed to re- 
present a good quality of the article, and one at which it 
might in many cases be safely and beneficially employed. 
Such were the views and the practice of the Examiner at 
this city, when informed by the importers that a lot of their 
iodine had been condemned at Boston, though the same 
quality had been admitted into Philadelphia."* 
Communication was held with the Examiner at that port, 
and also with the Secretary of the Treasury, detailing the 
grounds of the course pursued at this place, and asking 
from the Department more specific instructions, in order to 
secure a greater uniformity of action in the administration 
of the law. The reply to this request (received March 23d, 
1850,) transmitted a copy of special instructions, which had 
long previously been given to the Examiner at the port of 
New York, but which were now communicated to this 
port for the first time. These instructions having reference 
* It is proper to state that this lot of iodine was afterward permitted 
to pass the Custom House at Boston. 
