222 REPORT ON IMPORTED ADULTERATED DRUGS. 
and number of the package ; and if I was satisfied with the 
quality, &c., I should write *one case of opium, examined 
and found correct;' but if I found the article not as it should 
be, I should write, * one case of opium, examined and found 
not of the requisite strength and purity. 
If Congress prohibit the importation of these foreign 
adulterated medicines, will the domestic manufacturer be 
induced thereby to direct his attention the more readily to 
the preparation of similar articles? 
Answer. By no means; for the obvious reason that the 
regular trade is ever watchful, and would soon detect any 
fraud of the kind, and trace it immediately home to its 
guilty source, whenj well directed public opinion would, in 
most instances, promptly apply the remedy at the expense 
of the reputation and business pursuits of the offending 
party. Let Congress protect our people from foreign im- 
positions in this matter, and the States of this Union will 
separately, if needs be, protect themselves from domestic 
evils of the kind, by enacting stringent laws, in reference to 
the purchase and sale of medicines for home consumption, 
similar to those which have been most effectively in opera- 
tion throughout Europe. 
Do your commission merchants solicit consignments of 
these adulterated drugs and medicines? 
Answer. I have reason to belive that some of them do ; 
but we have many commission houses conducted by highly 
respectable and honorable merchants, who have expressed 
themselves [as opposed to that trade, and in favour of an 
appeal to Congress for the passage of a law prohibiting the 
importation of that kind of merchandise, not only as a 
matter of interest, but from principle ; of interest, because 
they well know they would receive a larger amount of 
consignments*in that class of merchandise, if good and pure 
articles were sent them, instead of the spurious and com- 
paratively worthless. 
Why has this base traffic been allowed to continue so 
