ON THE ADULTERATION OF DRUGS. 
117 
rities are frequently so great, as to render the articles nearly 
or entirely inefficacious; and that medicines of this kind are 
to be found occasionally in the shops even of the most respect- 
able druggists, and notwithstanding great pains on their part 
to obtain and dispense nothing but what is genuine. 
For some years past the attention of the College of Physi- 
cians of Edinburgh, in some measure the guardians of the pub- 
lic in this matter, has been pointedly turned to an evil so 
serious, and so disgraceful to the present improved state ot 
pharmacy. The College of Surgeons of this city have also 
been led more recently to inquire into the subject; and have 
appointed a committee to examine into the extent ot the prac- 
tice, and the means of abating it. A short time ago the for- 
mer College was requested to co-operate with its sister insti- 
tution, and the two bodies have resolved to join in the investi- 
gation. It cannot be doubted that they will proceed cordially 
in the task they have ihus laid down for themselves; and it 
may be confidently anticipated that their labors will not ter- 
minate without some important practical results. It is to 
accelerate their operations, by making the existing state of 
the question generally known, so far as my inquiries have 
hitherto gone, that the following observations have been 
drawn up. 
I believe I shall be most likely to attain the object in view, 
by treating the subject under the three subsequent heads. It 
will be right, in the first place, to show, from actual examples, 
that the adulteration of drugs is practised to an extent inju- 
rious to the success of medical practice, and in a way which 
defies the caution even of well informed and conscientious 
druggists. An attempt will next be made to point out the 
sources of these adulterations, that is, the quarters where the 
practice is carried on, together with the circumstances in the 
commercial history of drugs which seem to have led to it. 
And lastly, a sketch will be given,— but with due diffidence 
on a subject of such intricacy, and surrounded by so many diffi- 
