The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-07-21
Adulterated Medicines.

The Journal Of applied Chemistry,
published in this city, informs us that
drugs are adulterated to an extent
that few, unless in position to know,
would imagine. Opium, for instance,
is mentioned as containing 60 per
cent. Of foreign matter, while Turkey
rhubarb is SO debasad that it is doubt
full whether so pounds of the genuine
article, and in well preserved state,
can be found in our whole country.
Indide of potassium is sometimes found
adulterated with carbonate of potassa
to the extent of so per cent. hence
the physician either increases the dose
or condemns the drug entirely or,
should he fix upon the amount re-
quired by his experience in the use of
such an article, and afterward obtain
that which is pure, he will find his pa
tient exhibit the symptoms of being
poisoned. Nor is the adulteration
limited to few unprincipled dealers
here and there through the country,
but 1t is so general that the leading
importers of drugs are aware of it ;
nor do they deny it, although it might
be supposed th2t HER iatefest lies in
concealment.
In discussing the remedy, it is said
that too great reliance is placed on the
manufacturer for the apothecary sell
dom applies the proper tests to his
purchases. We are informed, also,
that it is no uncommon practice for
clerks to put up different drug from
that named in prescription, both TO
avoid the trouble of getting it elsewhere
and to be sure of making a sale, and,
in calculating the chances of escaping
detection, they rely mainly upon the
ignorance of the patient and the mat
tention of the physician. AS an effec
tual remedy for these crimes and stu
pidities, our authority proposes that
honest drug inspectors shall be ap-
pointed alike for large and small
places; it shall lie their duty to ex-
anime every invoice of drugs pur-
chased by the retail dealer, and also to
do all in their power to prevent the
druggist from ''sophisticating such
drugs, or in any way defrauding his
LII hIttC SSill-
ed patent medicines should be sold
with statement of the articles of
which they are composed, by which
means it is thought that dishonest
quacks will become obsolete when the
motto with regard to their prepara-t l
tons, "Open your mouth and shut
your eyes," will cease to have applica-
ton. But the inspectors should crit
ically examine all of this class of
medicines for it is charged that the
proprietors are in the habit of buying
damaged drugs, worthless for any 9th
er purpose, and they also use bad
wines and alcoholic liquors in the pre-
paration of ''invigoratfng bitteFs," and:1
the like. 1t is proposed also to forcid
those who refine aloes to sell the dregs
to brewers; nor may the manufactures
of quinine and morphine sell their ex-
hausted bark and opium to druggists,
for, we are told, "they will invariably1
dry and pulverize these articles, and
use them for the adulteration of gen.
uine drugs" As to wines and liquors,
none must be allowed to be sold for
medical purposes unless they have the
stamp of approval of the inspectors.
1t must be confessed that this is an |
alarming exhibit to such as take medi-,
cine and beer. But it does not seem
likely that the proposed examination
will effect the desired object, since ita
will be easy for any druggist to keep,
on hand samples for inspection other
than such as will be sold. If we look
deeper and further, it will be seen
that the trouble arises from an adulter
alton of quite another kind, and, in
our opinion, no remedy can be found
until one is applied to this. We refer
to the adulteTatiop of human nature
for this is a necessary preliminary, not
only to the adulteration Of drugs, but
of food, and of every commodity from
which money by this practice cah be-
made. In the same journal from
which we have quoted, certain firm
advertises with large heading, 'Pure
White Lead" and they add, in a sort
of postscript, that they also manufac-
ture a special article equal to that
produced by any other establishment.
The inevitable tendency of this wide
spread debasement is to destroy the
moral sentiment i'll man; and there
seems no hope of reformation until
fraud and rascality pervading society
to such an extent that the social struc-
ture breaks down with the weight of
its iniquity, when the world will begin