Am.  Jour.  Pharni.  | 
3Iay,  1909.  j 
Crude  and  Powdered  Drugs. 
231 
The  Food  and  Drugs  Act  demands  that  a  geographical  name 
applied  to  a  product  must  truly  indicate  the  place  of  production ; 
thus  Barbados  aloes  must  be  produced  in  Barbados,  Peruvian  bark 
in  Peru,  Dutch  chocolate  in  Holland,  Roman  chamomile  in  Rome,  etc. 
It  is  evidently  incumbent  upon  the  framers  and  revisers  of  the 
U.S. P.  to  reform  its  nomenclature  to  make  it  conform  with  the 
Food  and  Drugs  Act.  We  protest  that  a  geographical  name  in 
the  title  or  sub-title  of  a  U.S. P.  product  should  be  correctly  em- 
ployed. In  the  case  of  aloes  no  sub-title  is  required  ;  on  the  con- 
trary it  is  objectionable,  producing  misconception,  and  should  be 
dropped.  Let  us  have  aloes,  but  unincumbered  by  misleading  and 
untrue  titular  description.  The  requirements  as  to  botanical  origin, 
tests  for  identity,  purity,  and  strength  are  all  that  are  necessary. 
CRUDE  AND  POWDERED  DRUGS  AT  THE  PORT  OF 
NEW  YORK  DURING  THE  YEAR  1907-08.1 
By  H.  H.  Rusby. 
An  experience  of  one  year,  studiously  devoted  to  the  examination 
of  the  crude  drugs  arriving  at  the  Port  of  New  York,  and  supple- 
mented by  the  examination  of  many  lots  obtained  after  their  entry 
into  commerce  and  while  being  distributed  to  the  consumer,  has 
been  found  intensely  interesting  and  instructive.  It  is  the  object 
of  this  paper  to  convey  to  the  members  of  the  Association  as  much 
as  possible  of  this  interest  and  information. 
The  instructions  under  which  I  work  for  the  Drug  Laboratory  of 
the  Bureau  of  Chemistry,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  are  to 
ascertain  whether  the  drugs  imported,  and  those  distributed  from 
one  State  to  another,  are  true  to  name  and  of  a  fit  quality  for  the 
manufacture  of  medicinal  preparations.  The  method  pursued  is, 
first,  to  examine  everything  offered  for  import,  which  the  inspector 
on  duty  is  not  sure  is  of  standard  quality,  and  to  report  a  recom- 
mendation as  to  its  being  admitted  or  deported.  Its  actual  admis- 
sion or  deportation  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasury  Department.  If 
deported,  it  may  be  again  shipped  to  this  country,  consigned  to  some 
other  port,  where  it  is  believed  that  it  is  likely  to  be  admitted,  a 
belief  that  is  sometimes  justified  by  the  subsequent  course  of  events. 
1  Read  at  the  56th  annual  meeting-  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Asso- 
ciation, September,  1908. 
