FALSIFICATIONS AND ADULTERATIONS. 
25 
been unconsciously bought by the retail druggist, for oxide of 
zinc. The physician will easily judge what must be the dif- 
ference of effect. 
Nitrate of Silver. — It is a fact, well known among drug- 
gists, that large quantities of lunar caustic are constantly sold, 
of a very impure quality ; and strange as it may seem, there 
are druggists, as well as manufacturers, who defend the prac- 
tice. Some of the manufacturers plead in defence, that they 
sell the article to those who know it to be impure, and that 
they, consequently, are guilty of no fraud. But the fallacy 
of this argument is at once apparent, if we consider that the 
dealers who buy an impure article from the manufacturer, 
would undoubtedly avoid purchasing it were it labelled as, 
if made at all, it should be labelled," Impure Lunar Caustic." 
Now whence arises this reluctance to purchase the article 
under such a label, but from a consciousness that it would 
not be bought by the consumer ? Is it not, therefore, as 
plain as the sun, that there is a consciousness, latent though 
it may be, that this impure nitrate of silver is eventually to 
be sold to persons who are not aware of its impurity — who 
purchase it as a pure article ? I hold it to be criminal, wil- 
fully to adulterate a chemical preparation for the sake of 
selling it cheap; inasmuch as, in the first place, it involves an 
undeniable falsehood; and in the next place, it greatly jeop- 
ardizes human life, which, in disease, frequently depends 
on the prompt and decided action of the remedy. But to 
confine ourselves to the subject of lunar caustic : It is sold 
very extensively over the United States, of various degrees 
of impurity, and of course (by wholesale) at various prices. 
Any one acquainted with its composition, and with the pre- 
sent price of silver, will readily perceive that no manufac- 
turer can profitably sell it under sixteen dollars the pound, 
avoirdupois, even reckoning nothing for the cost of manufac- 
turing. But it has been sold largely for six dollars per pound, 
and perhaps less. What then must be the quality of the article? 
We shall soon see. 
VOL. iv. — no. i. 4 
