48  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy.  {^^ry.isoT' 
quality,  and  hence  not  many  of  them  are  rejected.  Mr.  Dickeson 
wondered  why,  if  the  Law  of  1848  were  faulty,  objection  had  not 
been  raised  to  it  before,  but  said  that  he  supposed  the  dissatisfaction 
had  some  relation  to  the  Pure  Food  and  Drugs  Law.  In  conclusion, 
Mr.  Dickeson  pointed  out  that  the  Customs  Service  has  no  authority 
to  frame  laws,  but  said  that  a  new  law  might  be  framed  by  the 
brokers  and  importers. 
After  the  reading  of  the  Act  of  1848  (American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy,  October,  1848)  by  the  chairman,  Dr.  Miller,  Dr.  Roberts 
was  called  upon,  and  he  stated  that  there  is  no  conflict  between  the 
U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  and  U.  S.  Dispensatory  and  other  standards; 
that  the  Customs  Service  examiners  have  no  choice  in  the  matter  of 
standards ;  that  their  duty  is  specifically  stated  and  that  the  standard 
prescribed  is  the  latest  edition  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  He  said 
that  he  supposed  the  purpose  had  in  mind  by  those  advocating  the 
repeal  of  the  Act  of  1848  was  to  provide  for  the  importation  of  drugs 
below  standard.  In  this  event,  he  said  that  provision  should  be 
made  for  protecting  the  Government,  and  cutting  out  obsolete  author- 
ities. He  likewise  stated  that  it  is  not  the  province  of  the  U.  S. 
Treasury  to  frame  laws,  this  function  resting  with  the  people  and  the 
Congress,  but  that  the  Department  would  be  willing  to  assist  in  the 
work. 
A  paper  by  W.  J.  Gesell,  who  is  connected  with  Lehn  &  Fink,  on 
(i  The  Act  of  1848  and  Regulations  on  Drugs  Imported  into  the 
United  States  from  the  Point  of  View  of  the  Importer,"  was  read 
on  his  behalf  by  George  M.  Beringer  (see  page  24). 
Mr.  Beringer  having  been  in  correspondence  with  members  of 
several  New  York  manufacturing  and  importing  drug  firms  in 
regard  to  the  Customs  Regulations  governing  the  importation  of 
drugs  and  medicinal  products,  was  asked  to  read  letters  which  he 
had  received  from  them. 
Donald  McKesson,  of  McKesson  &  Robbins,  wrote  in  part,  as 
follows : 
"  This  matter  came  up  at  the  convention  of  the  National  Whole- 
sale Druggists'  Association,  and  the  present  status  of  the  regulations 
is  briefly  as  follows :  Previous  to  the  passing  of  the  Food  and  Drugs 
Act,  June  30,  1906,  importations  were  governed  by  the  law  of 
1848  which  required  that  foods  and  drugs  should  be  up  to  the 
standards  of  the  '  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  London  Pharmacopoeia,  the 
Edinburgh  Pharmacopoeia,'  and  numerous  other  books  cited  '  or 
any  other  standard  work.' 
