DR. EDWARDS' REPORT. 
181 
your immediate attention and instructions, here presents 
itself. While it is plain the examiner will adjudge "the puri- 
ty, strength, and fitness for medicinal purposes" of the arti- 
cles presented, is he also to be the judge of their commercial 
value? No one could possibly be better acquainted with 
an article, than he who has analysed and thoroughly ex- 
amined its component parts. My opinion is, that instruc- 
tions to the purport that a chemical standard, provided it 
accord with the standard prescribed by the law, should not 
only test its admissibility, but should also fix a correspond- 
ing value, and that the examiner should himself raise, when 
necessary, the invoice price and affix the value for duty. 
The law has been variously construed at the different ports 
by the appraiser's department, and instructions will ensure 
a much needed uniformity. A modification of the law, by 
some urgently demanded, to the effect that the government 
should be liable for all expense in the analytical examina- 
tions called for by the importers, provided the return of the 
examiner be not sustained, we conceive as unnecessary. It 
exacts from owners and consignees no more than laws of 
long standing touching other articles of merchandise, and a 
departure from long established usages in this department 
of commerce I would not recommend. 
We find no opposition to a strict examination and analy 
sis of chemical preparations before entry, yet many fear the 
operation on crude drugs. Ordinarily, drugs, such as gums, 
roots, &c, are imported in a crude condition, and were a 
strict account demanded, but very few would be passed as 
"fit for medicine." To exemplify : It is very rare that an 
entire bale of jalap root can be declared as fit for use. 
Some bulbs will be mature, others worthless. A recent in- 
voice of fourteen bales was offered at New York, only two 
of which were declared proper for entry. The remaining 
twelve contained so great a preponderance of the immature 
root and adulterations, as to require its rejection. I would 
suggest, as a benefit to the treasury, and a matter of favour 
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