The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-08
~ADULTERATED DRUGS.
Dairy Commissioner McGuire's Big
F%ight-0pium and Nux
Y0mica.
speciaI to lhs Jersey citg Ns,g..

akhNfN~ -FFAA
TRENTON, Jan. 8, 1s9L.-State Dairy
been making quite u stir not only in this
State. but all over the country, by his
prosecution of several druggists for sell
ing tincture of opium and nux vomica
which were not up to the standard Of the
United States P-harmacopma. The medi-
cal journals of this country have criti-
cized his action very severely. The Eng
fish journals nave taken up the subject,
and they endorse the movement started
by Mr.. Mcclure in the strongest terms.
The adulteration of drugs is one of the
most important matters with which this
part Of the Stae government { has todeal.
1t is dangerous to the health of the co n.
mon wealth. Mr.. Mcclure so looks upon
ii, ana he expects during the coming
year to mak IT interesting for those
druggists who do not sell pure articles.
During the year just passed, as will be
shown by Mr.. McGuire's coming report,
there has been a marked improvement in
the condition of the drugs sold. Last
year the adulteration was found to be 65
per cent. This year the average is 40 per
cent, and this improvement was brought
about, except In the latter part OF the
year, without resorting to prosecution.
The first cases OF prosecution were In
New Brunswick, where two samples or
tincture OF opium were obtained on pre-
scription, n of which contained only
$50 grains of morphia TO the ounce and
the other Lib grains, whereas the average
strength should be 8 grains. This drug
is one used very frequently, and 1t Is i'm
portant that IL should act quickly. Had
the usual dose been prescribed to a patient
with only the strength of the samples IL
would ave no effect. and If it were a
serious case the result might have been
disastrous.
At the trial the druggists claimed that
the opium from which the tincture was
made had been purchased from q respect
able firm and that the tincture was made
according to the formula of the u. 5.
PharmacOpRia. The analysis showed the
opium used TO have been previously ex-
hausted, such as is known TO the trade as
Boston opium"
The Pharmacopea requires that tine
ture of opium shall be made from the
powdered drug of a standard strength.
Mir. Mcclure says. in his forthcoming re-
port, that this drug a be had from ny
reputable drug firm with the assay
printed on the label and guaranteed, and
he wonders how experienced druggists
could be so duped. or how, being so fa-
miliar with the true appearance of the
finished tincture they could dis
R(ARO NA0 A44aAA HAt CAt y
He thinks a severe penalty should be
imposed upon any pharmacist who is
guilty, whether from incompetency or
mercenary motive. of dispensing SO de-
based an article where a human life may
depend on Its action. The druggists in
this case were found guilty, but the APP
peal is pending.
Ia Atlantic City a druggist was arrested
for selling nux vomica which was below
the standard. The trial will come of on
the eth inst, before Judge Reed. This
drug contains considerable strychnine,
and must be used with exceeding great
care or it is dangerous TO life. 1t is used
very much by physicians for various pur
poses. The pharmacop pea requires the
tinciure to contain TWO per cent. dry ex'
tract.
-Four samples of the drug out of those
collected were found to contain respect
lively 50, .7l2, .615 and LOTS per cent.
I This was so far below the standar that
Mr.. Mcclure had the parties prosecuted.
Two OF Inc defendants stated that theiI
tincture mad been prepared from a GER
tain standard fluid extract, which they
were led TO believe would produce q u.
that they mad failed TO comply with the
law they pleaded guilty and paid The
fine. The other two defendants stated
that their tinctures had been made from
a so termed normal liquid. y having Oh
the printed label a formula which BY fol
lowing. the manufacturers claim. a IT,. s
p. tineture would be obtained containing
rs per cent. alkalolds.