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opium has been recognised. The International Opium Convention signed
or ratified by every civilized nation in the world is directed against such
drugs. The maintenance of the purity and strength of other drugs is a
justifiable ground for grant of special protection.
5. Adulteration is generally the outcome of unhealthy competition to
supply medicine at low prices. Under-strength in preparations labelled
as poison is common, partly on account of the paucity of qualified chemists
capable of testing them and partly on account of the desire to avoid
untoward accidents. Such is the case with preparations like tinctures of
nux vomica, digitalis and the liquid extracts of ergot and belladonna.
The devices adopted are many, namely, (1) removal of the characteristic
principle from essential oils (e.g., eugenol from oil of cloves, cineol from
eucalyptus oil, santalol from sandalwood oil, menthol from oil of pepper
-mint); flavouring of the terpene and sesquiterpene residues with such
substances as benzaldehyde, cinnamic aldehyde, terpeneol, geraniol, and
sale as essential oils; and mixture with mineral oils; (2) adulteration of
expensive drugs such as cocaine, santonin, saccharine, quinine, caffeine,
potassium iodide and thymol, with substances similar in appearance,
e.g., cocaine with phenazone, aspirin, potassium nitrate, etc., santonin
with boric acid; quinine with chalk, starch and other inert matter;
potassium iodide with potassium bromide which is much cheaper ; (3) use
of inferior or damaged raw materials which are purchased at cheap rates ;
(4) use of preservatives permitting decrease in alcohol content, e.g.,
addition of carbolic acid, formaldehyde, salicylic acid (which are injurious
in character); (5) importation of time-expired or stale drugs which are
not saleable in the country of origin; (6) false and misleading labels as to
quality and strength; and (7) adoption of fictitious names with the object
.of misleading the public.
6. As regard the profession of pharmacy, there are practically no
restrictive laws of general application except certain perfunctory provisions
'in Municipal Acts of some of the Provinces relating to the registration
.and licensing of retail shops and the employment of compounders.
7. Biological products and organo-metallic compounds require special
care in their manufacture as regards personnel and equipment, and their
subsequent control by bio-chemical and biological assays. Equally great
attention is required in regard to their import as they are peculiarly sus
ceptible to defective conditions of transit and storage.
(Paragraphs 2 to 7 above are quotations from the Report of the Drugs
Enquiry Committee.)
8. In making a series of important recommendations the Committee
stressed the need for immediate legislation to control the sale of drugs
:and the profession of Pharmacy, as well as for the establishment of a
'Central Laboratory, whose main functions would be to carry out research,
to standardise methods of analysis and tests, and to undertake examina
tion of drugs sold in the market.
Paragraphs 48, 204, 205, 207, 208 and 209 of the Drugs Enquiry Committee
Report 1930.31 have been reproduced as Paras. 2 to 7 of this Chapter.