The record-union., 1895-01-26
Weather Forecast.
Northern California-Fair weather.
Hight of river, 25 feet s inches.
A BILL WITH MEAT IN 1T.

Mr.. Keen has bill before the Assembly
that consists of but six short sections,
and less than seventy lines in all. but it is
a meaty bill and has bound up in its
simple provisions a world of meaning
and of geod, preFided that if it becomes
law it is enforced. Except it receives
public support, it will be not even a
tinkling cymbal.
1t is bill to check the offense of
adulteration of drugs and foods. A dis
tinguished physician said to the RECORD
UNION not long ago that the adulteration
Of drugs he looked upon as little below
the grade of murder, if it is to be classi-
fed among crimes. The physician who
trusts to the action of pure drugs to save
his patients life is liable to lose his case if
the drug used is not genuine. In such
case the party who misleads the physi-
clan ought to be held accountable at least
for manslaughter.
But that is not within the purview of
Mr.. Keen's bill; it is content with max
ing such offenses misdemeanors, and of
imposing upon the guilty only fine and
county Jail detention. As to the stand
ards set up in the bill for ascertaining the
purity of a drug we have no technical
knowledge. All those matters can be
safely left to the scientific to consider and
to see to it that no wrong is done manu-
facturers or dealers.
When we come to the adulteration of
food, however, we are not in uncertain
waters. The bill provides that whatever
Is put into food article to lower it's
quality and iniuriousIy affect its
strength or purity adulterates it, and
whoever does that thing is guilty OF
adulterating. So, too if an inferior or
cheaper substance is substituted wholly
Or in part for the pure; or if any neces-
sary ingredient or part of the food is
wholly or in part extracted from it; and
the result is offered as pure article; or
where an imitation is sold under the title
and name of the genuine; or where the
food consists in part of diseased, decom-
posed tainted, infected or putrid animal
or vegetable matter; or in the case of
milk. if it is the product of a diseased an
imal; or if the cheat is concealed by coat
ing, powdering or polishing, so as to
make it appear to be of greater value than
it really is; or if the food article contains
poisonous matter dangerous to health, the
offender is to be held guilty, not only the
manufacturer, but those who sell it or
offer it for sale.
1t is declared that food shall be con-
strued to mean anything used by man
for drink or food. whether the article is
simple. mixed or compounded. 1t is also
provided that manufacturers and sellers
OF drugs or food shall, on application.
furnish any person demanding it and
offering to pay for the same a sample of
any article he makes or sells, for the pur-
pose of having an analysis made. IF the
article is found to be adulterated. and to
fall within the scope of the Act, and the
party making or selling it is found guilty.
in addition to the fine that may be i'm
posed, and that may run up to S100, he or
she may be adjudged liable for the cost of
the analysis.
There is clause providing that articles
of food sold in packages that are
distinctly labeled, and marked as
compounded, or as mixtures,
and stating the names and quanti-
ties of the ingredients, shall not be
deemed to be included under the law, SO
that one can sell compounds freely. if
they are plainly marked as mixtures.
Such laws as we now have against
adulteration are dead letters. If this bill
passes and is approved, what will be its
fate? Will it serve only to encum ber
the statute book? There may be some
joker in the bill; if SO, we have not been
able to discover it, but that it will excite
lively interest among the dispensers of
beverages may be anticipated. 1t will be
new order of things when one asks for q
toddy to have bottle set out labeled
"miXture," for that will be the only
safety for the seller, if he is not disposed
to risk the wrath of the law, in case it
shall ever develop ability to live.