The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-11


 of the. opinion that If properly direc- ted, the energy which can here be controlled, should build up at or near this point. the great future city of the
 Sincerely, yours,
 John A. Wyeth, NJ. D.
 soYE NEEDED LEGISLATION, Sale of FoiSens and Pare Food and
 Drug Bill.
 Editor The Advertiser:
 The Federal food and drugs act of June 30. 1906. became effective Janu- ary l, 1907 This Is a simple statement to materially affect the physical or mental condition of the reader.
 And yet the true and startling state- ment has been made, that of all the statute books since the civil war. this is by far the most sweeping and uni- versal in its application.
 1T this statement be unequivocaliy accepted, 1t at once becomes apparent that your valuable space will prohibit any attempt to here set forth aught else than mere cursory statement of the intent and meaning of the act.
 The agitation for pure drugs began nearly sixty years ago, to be- followed later by an agitation for pure foods. Through all the intervening years, down to the present day, the progress Ol tHe pure Itou duQ drugs movement mas been fylow but inevitable.
 The most casual reader is cognizant of the fact that the Federal Govern ment has adhered to certain pure food and drug restrictions in it's dealings with foreign nations.
 Many of the States have adopted laws governing the sale of food and drugs The launching and enforce mept of these laws have had the eff feet Of relegating the lmperfections to limbo and of bringing about a better understanding of those parts that are absolutely needful and beneficial to all the people.
 And so, this movement gaining strength and momentum with the pass ing of the years, has become an irre- sistible force. It appeared to reach its eliminating point when the Congress of the United States declared that it should become effective ahd operative in all places wherein there is Federal Jurisdiction.
 Today machinery for the enforcement of the law is being set up in the Dis trict of Columbia, the territories and all insular possessions. The writer of this article dlsclaims any ability to grasp the vast sweep of law, either in it's provisions respecting drugs, or its relation to food stuffs, but, from a care full reading of certain passages, the thought is provoked that at least one Congressman has oeen reading the com mandments, as witness the following: The law applies ito all medicines and prepara tons recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia or the National Formulary, for internal, or external use, and any substance, or mixture of sub- stances, intended to be used for the cure, mitigation, or prevention of dis ease, in either man, or other animals. '"
 This, as one writer facetiously re- marks includes everything that is in the Heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth"
 Be that as it may, the act is an ac- complished fact. Some idea as to the ma gnitude of this act will dawn upon the casual reader when he is told that this law will affect 100000 articles within the realm of drugs alone.
 It is assumed, of course, that every one, understands that the pure food and drugs act cannot be enforced in the sovereign States. Of course 1t is ap- plicable to such products as enter into interstate commerce prohibiting the introduction from one State to another of any article of food, or drugs, which are adullerated or misbranded within the meaning of the act. That the just enforcement of this law will re- suit in incalculable benefit to humanity cannot tor a moment be doubted
 The Era says: The pure drugs law has done more in the last six months to create a higher standard of progress in the drug trade than any thing that has happened In half cen tury."
 pr. Kebler. head of the drug labor atory, Washington, used the following ianguage in add. ess'ng the drug sec ton of the Board of Trade in New York:
 II regard the pure food and drugs act as one of the best laws that has That this is generally recognized by the manufacturers themselves, Is prov cn by the fact that not single man ufacturer with honest goods has made ! inf shown dis osit'on to evade the law: Only those with deleterious or irferior products who fear publicity are seeking to evade | the law"
 | Notwithstanding the vast amount of l chemicals manufactured in this coun- | try our imports of chemicals drugs | have increased 50 per cent. in the last decade, These impo' ts now reach the sum of s75.0oo 900 annually. This vast | amount of material, along with every i thing of a similar nature manutactured | in this country. must necessarily con l form to certain standards of strength | and purity Tn order to set in motion | the machinery that is necessary to at- tain these ends the Federal Govern nent appropriated the sum Of $250. .oOo | This sum of money became available for use on Deceu per 24. 1908.
 The duty Of enforcing the law in Its various ramiflcations devolves solely uron the Denartmeut of Agriculture al | Wash'ngtoD
 As the date upon which the law was to become effective drew near. innum- ! erable commercial bodies. corporations State and national societies and Leg islatures began to cope with the al absorbing problem. Even down to the present moment there is much conf'c' ! of opinion .ts 10 the best method ot procedure, in so far as the lndlVidua States are concerned.
 Some States organizations and indi' 1 viduals are ftron glv insistent upon de lay. They argue that the act contain. ] -adical defactr and that such defActs