Am.  Jour.  Pharru. 
April,  1899. 
A  Study  of  Starch  Grains. 
185 
APPLICATION  OF  THIS  KNOWLEDGE. 
From  what  has  been  said  it  is  apparent  that  we  are  for  the  most 
part  indebted  to  botanists  and  pharmacognocists  for  the  advance- 
ments made  in  our  knowledge  of  the  constitution  and  composition 
of  starch  grains.  This  follows  as  a  natural  sequence  of  their 
studies  in  the  plant  kingdom.  It  may  be  noted  that  there  are 
many  facts  at  the  command  of  the  student  of  botany  which  may 
be  turned  to  practical  account  in  the  study  of  this  and  similar  sub- 
jects. It  has  been  shown  in  this  article  that  micro-physical  and 
micro-chemical  examinations  reveal  an  abundance  of  informa- 
tion which  might  be  turned  to  practical  account  in  the  study 
of  plant  products  containing  starch.  I  am  aware  that  this 
Congress  has  met  to  secure  the  desired  legislation  on  pure 
foods  and  drugs  and  prevent  undesirable  amendments,  but  it  is  ex- 
tremely important  that  it  shall  also  consider  what  departments 
of  science  shall  furnish  the  judges  who  shall  determine  what  the 
standards  of  purity  shall  be.  It  is  exceedingly  important,  and, 
indeed,  absolutely  necessary  that  every  precaution  should  be 
taken  to  insure  the  public  who  use  the  foods  and  drugs,  as 
well  as  the  business  man  who  manufactures  and  supplies  these 
products,  that  there  is  a  standard  that  can  be  determined  and 
that  is  just  and  fair.  It  is  very  manifest,  from  the  complica- 
tions which  have  arisen  by  reason  of  food  and  drug  legislation 
thus  far  enacted,  that  a  certain  amount  of  odium  attaches  to  pure 
food  and  drug  laws.  This  arises  because  of  the  difficulty  of  se- 
curing officers  who  understand  either  natural  and  practical  condi- 
tions in  the  manufacture  or  commerce  of  these  products,  and  who 
have  been  sufficiently  trained  and  developed  in  all  of  the  sciences 
which  are  involved  in  the  study  of  the  origin  and  manufacture 
of  them,  so  as  to  comprehend  the  possibilities  of  either  truth  or 
error.  Unless  there  is  an  advance  in  the  action  of  this  Congress 
in  deciding  who  are  to  be  the  judges  of  purity  and  adulteration  in 
foods  and  drugs,  over  that  of  previous  legislative  acts,  it  is  not  un- 
likely that  considerable  trouble  and  annoyance  will  be  caused  the 
most  conscientious  manufacturers  and  business  men  rather  than  those 
who  wilfully  adulterate  or  admix  their  products.  One  of  the  first  steps 
of  this  Congress  should  be  to  make  sure  that  there  is  sufficient  scien- 
tific knowledge  at  our  command  which  can  be  utilized  in  establishing 
standards  of  purity,  etc.,  and  that  there  are  sufficient  competent 
