New-York tribune., 1906-07-02
A CHANCE FOR PURE ROOD.

The Pure Food law as finally enacted COM
bines many OF the best features of the Senate
and House measures, and eliminates most of
the loopholes TO which attention was called by
The Tribune while the question was under dis
cussion. The House provision is adopted add
ing cocaine, heroin, chloroform, chloral hydrate,
acetanilid and some other substances to the
Senate's list Of ingredients of remedies the
quantities of which must be stated on the label.
AS the Senate required this statement only con-
cerning alcohol and opium and it's derivatives, a
great improvement in the bill passed as a safe
guard against the stimulation of drug habits is
evident. At the same time the House amend
ment which, while making this advance, left
open the door TO the use Of alcohol In patent
medicines by allowing il TO be present without
declaration I'm the quantities regularly pre-
scribed as a solvent or preservative is elm
mated. After this legislation becomes effective,
therefore. the use of these drugs even in the
minutest quantity in patent medicines must be
made public.
All drugs. under this law, must conform to
the standard of the Pharmacopeia or else be
plainly labelled as of a different standard, and
they will be regarded as misbranded if any
statement concerning their character is false.
Food products will also be considered as mis-
branded 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 standards for
various articles, and that on application of the
manufacturer an article complying with the
standard might bear the label, United States
Standard" We doubt however, if this is really
a disadvantage. The act itself prescribes 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 Secretarys standards concerning the use Of
preservatives in food might be made the excuse
for eyading the law. Likewise his brand might
be used as the beef inspection label has been
used, for advertising purposes. though the goods
manufactured for the market were inferior to
the samples submitted for inspection. Anyhow,
the validity of the standards set by the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture would have to be tried out
in the courts, and it is probably just as we'll to
go back to the law itself for the standards.
If the provisions Of this law are strictly en-
forced it should prove adequate 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 getting 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 investigations and to
insist that retail dealers shall 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 adul-
teration II he is not interested, the complaints
of the chemist are likely to receive only per-
functory attention from prosecuting officers