220 REPORT ON IMPORTED ADULTERATED DRUGS. 
reference to their strength and purity, by properly qualified 
examiners^ specially appointed to that duty; admitting to 
entry only those found of good quality, and prohibiting the 
introduction of all others. 
You say examiners instead of inspectors. To avoid a 
misunderstanding of the term inspectors, appraisers, and 
examiners, will you please explain the difference in the 
duties of each ? 
Answer. The term inspector properly applies to those 
custom-house officers whose duty it is to take charge of ves- 
sels on their arrival from foreign ports, and discharge the 
cargoes in accordance with the directions specified in the 
permits or orders sent to them from the collector's office. 
They have only to inspect the marks and numbers of each 
package before it is discharged from the vessel, to see that 
the same correspond with those called for on the permit or 
order. They have nothing to do with the contents of the 
packages. When the vessel is entirely discharged, the in- 
spector makes his return accordingly to the collector, and is 
then ready to be placed on board of anotlier. 
The term examiner applies to clerks in the appraiser's de- 
partment, whose duty it is to examine by invoice the con- 
tents of such packages of merchandize as are sent to the 
public store by the collector for that purpose. If, on ex- 
amination, the merchandise is found to be fairly valued, a 
return to that effect is made upon the invoice, and the ex- 
aminer's check is countersigned by the appraiser; afier 
which the , invoice goes to the collector's office, and the 
merchant can obtain his goods by procuring an order on 
the storekeeper after paying the duties. 
The term appraiser applies to the head of the appraiser's 
department, whose duty it is to exercise a constant and 
general supervision over the office, and countersign all re- 
turns upon invoices made by the assistant appraisers and 
examiners. 
Do not the present laws permit the importer to call for a 
