ON THE ADULTERATION OF DRUGS. 
141 
undeniable that such a method of investigation, which com- 
bines chemical and external characters, is infinitely more pre- 
cise and searching than the latter characters singly, which at 
the present moment are almost alone employed by practical 
men, on account of their ignorance of the former. 
3. In the third place a great proportion of adulterations 
would be efficiently checked by a well organized system of 
visitation of shops. I confess that at one time little advan- 
tage seemed to me attainable by this measure. The length 
of time required to make a thorough inspection appeared so 
great, as to render it impracticable for a moderate body of in- 
dividuals to examine properly any material number of estab- 
lishments even once or twice a year, without their whole time 
being devoted to the duty. But, since becoming more fami- 
liar with the external characters of drugs, as well as the 
applications of chemical analysis to the discovery of their 
adulterations, and since witnessing more especially the extra- 
ordinary tact and rapidity with which druggists of experience 
can ascertain the respective qualities of numberless samples of 
some kinds of drugs placed before them at the same time, — I 
no longer entertain any doubt that an effectual visitation of 
shops may be instituted by a properly organized body. For 
the success of a system of inspection it seems essential that 
a committee of inspectors should be appointed for each metro- 
polis in the empire; that the members be nominated by the 
general body; that they have the power of nominating assist- 
ants or deputies in country districts; that they shall receive a 
salary in proportion to the duty discharged; that they shall 
be so numerous as to ensure the visitation of every shop at 
least twice a year; that penalties be inflicted for the wilful 
possession of spurious drugs; and that these penalties be re- 
coverable by a simple legal process. 
Some may argue in opposition to the views here expressed 
of the utility of inspections, that the measure has been already 
tried in this country, and found to be inoperative. It is true 
that the Colleges of Physicians of London and of Edinburgh, 
