REPORT ON IMPORTED ADULTERATED DRUGS. 219 
Is this traffic on the increase, proportionate to the increase 
in the trade of drugs, medicines, &c. ? 
Answer. It is. 
What proportion of the importers in New York are en- 
gaged in this traffic, to any extent, with a full knowledge 
^ of the articles imported ? 
Answer. I know of but two or three of our regular and 
otherwise respectable houses, ^who order these vitiated 
articles from abroad. The business is more generally in 
the hands of commission houses, where * good, bad, and 
indifferent' can be found, 'in quantities to suit the purcha- 
sers.' A great proportion of these adulterated articles I 
have reason to believe are consignments. 
From your know^ledge of medicine and the information 
acquired in your present position, are not the deceptions, 
in many instances, so great as to deceive, not only the peo- 
ple generally, but the profession at large ? 
Answer. Such is, unfortunately, too true, and what is 
more to be regretted, these base imitations are rapidly mul- 
tiplying ; giving, at the same time, evidence on the part of 
the manufacturer of increased proficiency in the deceptive 
art, as applied to the preparation of vitiated medicines. 
Are you acquainted with any agents of foreign manu- 
facturing chemists who travel in this country, for the pur- 
pose of collecting orders and effecting sales of adulterated 
medicines, &c.? 
Answer. I am acquainted with persons of that descrip- 
tion, and they have been among us for the past twelve 
months. 
What is the best and most effective mode to put an end 
to the importation of adulterated and deteriorated medi- 
cines ? 
Answer. In my opinion, the object can only be attained 
by the passage of a law by Congress, making it necessary 
that all drugs, medicines, &c,, before passing the custom- 
house, shall be subjected to an examination, strictly in 
