New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
SELLING ADULTERATED OPIUM
A DRUG HOUSE EMPLOYS A TURK TO MIX THE
DRUG WITH OTHER sUBsTANCFs-wHAT
MEMBERS or THE TRADE THINK.

MEMBERS OF THE TRADE THINK.
The sale Of adulcratcd opium IS causing no Httle
stir among the druggists Of this city II mas peeh
suggested that the Board Of Health be called upon 10
take some action 10 stop the practice. willie some
pharmacists favor bringing the matter before inc
state Pharmaceutical Society. 50 that II can recon
mend 10 the state Legislature the passage Of an ac
making il a misdemeanor 10 sell or offer Tor Sal'
opium below the standard required by the customs
authorities before allowing it TO be brought INTO ms
country.
some years ago firm in Smyrna Turkey began 10
manipulate opium by various processes, which mado
an inferior article look like HrstclasS one IN
couraged by their success the firm began 10 adu l''
eign substances to their opium, until the drug con
tanned less than per cent Of mophia' the s|'''"n
set by the United states authorities. When an ahaly
sis Of the drug showed this the customs oh'al' re-
fused to permit 1t to be imported. and consequently
large shipments had TO be returned t. Europe
When the dealers in smyrna saw that the Govern
ment was determined. they no longer shipped adultcf
ated opium to this country. but a firm IN TINS city
imported a Turkish workman who was an adept AT
mixing the drug with other substances ana inc
aduItelation has since been done here
The head Of the firm which is putting this inferior
article Oh The market Is quoted saying: lc~, sell
adulteratcd opium, but ! do 1t op My. There j. NJ
dcccp,o ion in it in the least The buyer know, ln~t
What he il luying and know just what am selling.
sell a great deal Of the pure OPIUM anu WN ru@t
antee i, accepted by the retail druggists ot lIe
city. myself believe that considerable par o. t.
aGnlcratcd opium Is used for smoking, ana l.' low
pcrcciltaec 81 morpha there is in that opium the
mi, view Is not taken by other wholesale drlcglS'
Mr. NcKc,e0u. ~ McKc-sOn d Robbins. -Ald IT, 4
ieporter II The Tribune " know that firm here nag
cen olul,cr.tinc opium because had some oi u
an ,i,1rl ..d fYund 30 10 bc below the standard IT,
CURED V the United state Government WMIe We
,,,rn NOT lost any customers Ia iu'e the HfNl
III adultcratcd opium chcape. than We can
Iii orr which IS %. the SnnhfId
%r.,ity. vet considerable trouble has been caused us
/ do moi think that. because some opium is uoc'
yciou~lv f. j. good thing 80 adult-ralc IT, Nhch 70
r,bv.ir.ali pre- rAc5 the drug he expects certain
results, II the medicine is weaker than ne thonSht IL
Va Ei, calculat ions set AT nauEht'
Another source Of danger from me use, OF me
inferior article pointed out. II the ph' -l'i1in
cuds thnt the ordinary dose does not proluc the
desired result ON account Of thc adu!icraton q" me
drug he Increases il. The prescription NAV he
renewed Iv "A different druggist who WolM perhaps
have on hand Opium o. '-cn,S quality; IN
rase Ike this. serious consequences might follow.
IN Inc meantime the druggist are mn % d-iuih'n
over Ire subject. but IL is 80. likely th"t l't w
I bic f., lake any step, to prevent The sale Of fine
adulteratca Gu. u9tl ia stat" Pharuacru irli
society holds rs regular meeting. which VIII not BE-
until next fall.