New-York tribune., 1869-05-25
AnrrrFP 1rED MEDICINES.

The Journal of Applied Chemistry, published
i'm this City, informs us that drugs are auui-
terated to an extent that few, unless IN posi-
ton to know, would imagine. Opium, Tor IN
stance is mentioned as containing 90 per cent.
of foreign matter, while Turkey rhubarb is so
debased that it is doubtful whether 80 pounds
of the genuine article. and in a well preserved
state, can be found in our whole country. To-
dide of potassium is sometimes found adul-
terated with carbonate of pOtassa to the
extent of so per cent. hence the physician
either increases the doses or condemns the
drug entirely; or, should he fix upon the
amount required by his experience in the use
of such an article, and afterward obtain that
which is pure, he will find his patient exhibit
the symptoms of being poisoned. Nor is the
adulteration limited to a few unprinclpled deal
ers 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 that their interest lies in
the cOncealment.
In discussing the remedy, it is said that too
great reliance is placed on the manufacturer;
for the apothecary seldom 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
n prescription, both to avoid the trouble OF
getting it elsewhere and to be sure of making
n sale, and. in calculating the. chances of es-
caping detection, they rely mainly upon the
ignorance of the patient and the inattention of
the physician. As an effectual remedy for
these crimes and stupidities, our authority
proposes that honest drug inspectors shall be
L IL for 1aYc 1
shall be their duty to examine every invoice
of drugs purchased by the retail dealer, and
also to do all in their power to prevent the
druggist from "sophisticating such drugs, or
Gin any way defrauding his patrons" In ad-
dition, what are called patent medicines should
be sold with u statement of the articles of
which they are composed, by which means il
is thought that dishonest quacks will become
obsolete when the motto with regard to their
preparations, "Open yOur mouth and shut your
"cyes," will cease to have application. But the
inspectors should critically 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 other pur-
pose and they also use bad wines and
alcoholic liquors i'm the preparation of :" in
"yigorating bitters," health cordials," and the
like. 1t is proposed also to forbid those who
refine aloes to sell the dregs to brewers; nor
may the manufacturers of quinine and NOR
phne sell their exhausted bark and opium to
druggists, for, we are told, "they will inva-
"riably dry and puly6rize these articles, and
"use them for the aduteration of genuine
drugs" AS 20 wines and liquors, none must
be allowed to be sold for medical purposes un-
less they have the stamp Of approval Of the
inspectors.
it must be confessed that this is an alarming
exhibit to such rs take medicine. and beer.
But it does not seem likely that the proposed
examination will effect the desired object, since
il viii be easy for any druggist to keep on hand
samples for inspection other than such rs will be
sold. If we look deeper and further. 1t will be
seen that the trouble arises from an adultera-
ton of quite another kind, and, in our opinion,
no remedy can be found until one is applied to
this We refer TO tho adulteratiOn of human
nature for this is a necessary preliminary, not
only to the adultcration Of drugs but of
food and of every commodity from which
money by this practice can 10 made. In the
same journal from which we have quoted, a
certain firm adyertises with large heading,
"Puro White Lcad,' and they add, in a sort of
postscript, that they also manufacture n special
article equal to that produced by any other
establishment. The inevitable tendency of this
widespread dcbasement is TO destroy the moral
sentiment in man; and there seems no hope of
reformation until fraud and rascality pervade
society to such an extent that the social struc-
ture breaks down with the weight of its in
iQuty, when the world will begin again.