The Portland daily press., 1879-02-01

For some time past dispute has been 60
ing on in regard to the purity of a certain
baking powder sold by our grocers. Into the
merits of that controversy we have no dispo-
sitlon to go; but we are minded to protest
against the insnuation freely made, that the
inquiry was dictated by selfish motives. That
is an easy charge to make and one that is
always made whenever man proposes to in
vestigate an abuse. The cry is at once
raised that he wants job at investigating at
fat salary. That may or may not be. II
it be so the chances are that the man who
has interest enough in the matter to agitate
it and knowledge enough to prosecute an in
quiry is, other things being equal, the most
competent man to undertake an investiga-
tion and worth the wages he will receive. If
he is selfish in his motive it is selishness
that breeds good to US. 1t is well TO remem-
Der that bis accusers and revilers are selfish
also, and usually far more interested in pr
petuating an abuse than he is in doing way
with it. 1t is for his interest, selfish or un-
sefish,to examine into the matter, to expose
wrong-doing, to see that the public is pro-
tected against fraud. 1t is for their interest
to keep matters quiet, to let things go on in
the old way, to stlfe inquiry and evade ex-
animation for they have mnch capital in
vested. 1t is easy to see with which of these
the public interest lies, which one is doing
most to promote the public welfare.
That there is a great adulteration of arti-
cles of food no one competent to testify in
the matter will deny, as no one will deny
that the people have a vital interest in its
exposure. and abolition. We have taken one
step toward that exposure. We should take
Others. We already have milk inspector.
We Should have grocery inspectors. drug in
spectors, liquor inspectors as we'll. If
trader sells inert or deleterious substances
under the names of spices the sale should be
stopped. II a druggist sells medicines pur-
porting to be pure, but harmfull3 adulterated,
their sale should be interdicted. The
people have as much right to demand
this as they have to demand the abolition of
nusauces that threaten the public health.
Of the existence Of adulterations there can be
no doubt. The controversy over the sugar
question has shown what can be done to-
ward sophisticating that article of trade
Many other illustrations in the grocery line
might be added. The adulteration of drugs.
We are told by those who have looked into
the matter, is carried on to an alarming ex--
tent. frequently drugs prescribed by ply
sicians are inert or possess some harmful
quality from which they should be free; and
the doctor is blamed, because his remedies
do not produce the effect he anticipated. A
familiar example of this is the common prepar
alton ofsubnitrate of bismuth, a brownish
powder that is bought and sold by the hand
ful, for dyspepsia and other comp, aints. Unless
It's preparation is conducted with the greatest
care it will contain considerable = e. =
arsenic. luthe hurry OF competition and
the demand for low prices, some pharmacists
neglect to apply the final tests to bismuth.
as refiners neglect to purity their sugars, or
distilers their liquors. In consequence,
people are arsenically poisoning themselves
while they think thy are taking harmless
preparation. This is but one instance of
many. As for liquors the adulteration of
them is notorious. If they are to be sod as
all, land they are sold at our agencies it IL
he duty OF the State to see that they are
pure. We need inspectors of all thse things
as much as we need inspectors of hilk.
IL is almost useless to hope tha any steps
will be takep in the matter. little can be
expected of legislators who dismiss the pro-
iect of Board of Health as tanciful freak
OF the doctors unworthy O notice. They
may quarrel ior week ovet jack-knife, but
the preservation Of the public health is
matter beneath thej, Consideration.