210 REPORT ON IMPORTED ADULTERATED DRUGS. 
establishment has been in this country for the last ten 
months. His business is to effect sales, and obtain orders. 
No wonder that those suffering the affliction of fever and 
ague in the western country take quinine by the tea-spoon- 
full at a dose, rather than a few grains, which is all suffi- 
cient when the article is pure. 
Calomel is imported not only crudely prepared, but more 
or less adulterated with a white argillaceous earth or clay, 
and other articles ; while it is put up after the manner, and 
bears the name of some well known and deservedly popular 
manufacturing chemist. The whole is a base imitation and 
fraud. ■ : 
Large quantities of an imperfectly manufactured iodine 
is imported in kegs, and put in the usual small bottles and 
parcels here. It is very impure, black, and damp, and 
totally unfit for medicinal purposes. 
Much of the iodide or hydriodate of potass, a valuable 
medicine when pure, is greatly adulterated by the a,dmix- 
ture of nitrate of potass, (saltpetre,) thereby changing its 
nature, and rendering it comparatively worthless. 
Many chemical preparations are not unfrequently mis- 
named; imposing, by that means, upon the purchaser some 
inferior article, bearing a similitude to the genuine, but 
different in medicinal qualities and value ; the label and the 
mode of package affording no security to the honest pur- 
chaser. 
Thus might 3^our committee continue through the whole 
catalogue, as most of the fine medicinal chemicals are 
prepared of unequal strength and purity, for the purpose 
of cheapening their cost, thereby rendering them less effective 
and more uncertain in the treatment of disease, and, in 
some cases, actually dangerous to the patient as well as 
obviously unjust and greatly embarrassing to the physician. 
We will here, however, proceed no further; believing the 
facts already set forth, respecting very many of our most 
important medicines, and those in daily use, will, if fully 
understood, satisfy your honorable body of the imperative 
