ON THE ADULTERATION OF DRUGS. 
131 
never pure, but invariably mixed to a considerable extent with 
another and comparatively inert plant: at least they were 
not aware of this fact in 1834, when I had occasion to con- 
verse with them on the subject. In these, and all other cases 
of the like kind, there seems reason for suspecting, that 
deliberate fraud is practised by the foreign merchant or pro- 
ducer. 
But there are other sophistications also practised by the 
producer or merchant abroad, — and these probably the most 
numerous, — for which he is only in part accountable, or 
which at all events he practices without any intention of de- 
ceiving the merchant or wholesale dealer in Britain. For 
the spurious articles are perfectly well known to the home 
trade; and the wholesale price varies regularly with the purity 
of the imported article, and even according to its exact degree 
of purity. It is impossible, for example, to imagine that the 
maker or foreign merchant has any fraudulent view to per- 
sonal profit in adulterating scammony or gamboge as he 
actually does, to the extent formerly mentioned; because the 
external characters of the different qualities are precise, and 
such as cannot be mistaken by any one of common expe- 
rience; their import prices differ accordingly to a great extent; 
and in fact I have found by analysis, that these prices indi- 
cate very accurately their relative purity. What then, must 
be naturally asked, is the object of this practice? Is it that 
the wholesale druggist may be enabled to impose on the 
retailer with the spurious articles? It would appear not. No 
retailer of moderate skill could be so deceived; and from 
many wholesale establishments the spurious drugs go forth 
for no more than their real relative value. 
More opportunities of information than I possess, would be 
required for investigating fully this apparent mystery. But 
I have had occasion to ascertain the true facts in respect to 
one instance of the kind, which will probably prove the type 
of many others of a similar nature. The conclusion to be 
drawn would seem to be, that the fault lies with the retailers, or 
