The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-07-13
CHANCE FOR PURE fooo
Checks on A%dulteration
Food are Provided Under the
New Law.

New Law.
New York Tribune: The pure
food law as finally enacted combines
many of the best features OF the
senate and house measures and
eliminates most OF the %loopholtS to
which attention was called while
the question was under discussion.
The house provision is adopted add
ing cocaine, h%eroin, c%hloroform.
choral hydrate, a%cetanilid and some
other substances to the senate's list
OF ingredients OF remedies the
quantities of which must be stated
on the label. AS thu senate required
this statement oniv concerning
alcohol ard opium and its deriva-
tiveS. a great improvement in the
bill passed DIS IA safeguard against the
Stimulation of drug habits is evil
dent. At the same time the house
amendment. which. while making
this advance. left open the door to
the use of alcohol in patent medi-
cines by allowing it to be present
without declaration in the quantities
regularly prescribed as a solvent or
preservative is eliminated. After
this legislation becomes effective.
therefore, the use Of these drugs
ever in the minutest quantity in
patent medicines must he made
public.
All drugs. under this law, must
conform to the standard of the
pharmacopoeia or else be plainly
labeled as OF a different standard,
and they will be regarded as mis-
branded il any statement concerning
their character is false. Food pro-
ducts will also be consi dered as
|! misbranded if any false statement
is made upon the package as to their
character or place Of origin, or any
misstatement.. as to their weight.
Some criticism has been made OF the
elimination from the act of the
house provision that the secretary OF
agriculture should determine stand
ards for various articles, and that on
application Of the manufactures an
article complying with the standard
might bear the label, "United States
Standard :" We doubt, however, il
this is really a disadvantage. The
act itself p1escribes the standards
and calls upon the Department of
Agriculture to make analyses and
order the prosecution OF all who
fail to observe the law. The secre-
tary's standards concerning the use
of preservatiyes i'm food might be
made the excuse for evading the law.
Likewise bis brand might he used as
the beef inspection label has been
used for advertising purposes.
though the goods manufactured for
tbs market were inferior to the sam.
piles submitted for inspection. Any
how. The validity of the standards
set by the secretary or agriculture
would have to be tried out in the
courts and it is probably just as well
to go back to the law itself ,ol tile
standards.
III the provisions OF this Law are
strictly enforced it should prove ade-
dlIate to stop at least the great bulk
OF the adulteration of foods and
drugs. The chief anxiety OF those
who hope for relief from the deceit
which faces them at every turn and
makes them almost despair OF get
ting what they Pay for is lest the
act be not adequately enforced.
Public opinion should be awake on
this subject to support the Depart
ment of'Agriculture in its investiga-
tions aud to insist that retail dealers
shall so far as possible safeguard
their patrons and refuse to handle
goods concerning which there is any
doubt. With a good law to back him
the consumer can do a great deal
to put down the evils OF ad%ulteration.
II he is not Interested, the COM
plants of the chemist are likely to
receive perfunctory attention from
prosecuting officers.
Card of Thanks.
We wish to thank our friends for
the kindness shown during tile