The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1907-01-11

druggists and grocers In Okla
homa and the Indian Territory
by reason of the fact that the new
federal pure food law went into full
effect in the territories on january,
absolutely prohibiting the sale of any
goods which have not been relabled
under the new law, while merchants
in the states have the privilege of
selling the stock on hand without
new labels. In the territories, how
ever, all labeled goods now on hand
become dead stock and can not be
disposed of until new labels are re-
ceived from the manufacturers.
These labels must in the case of pro-
prietary medicines give the precent-
age of alcohol and narcotics and tho
character of the pieservatives used
in canned goods Of all kinds. In this
respect Oklahoma merchants are
placed in the same position as manu-
facturers, and as merchants In the
District of Columbia and the insular
possessions.
A number of Oklahoma dealers.
headed by F. B. Lille OF Guthrie,
secretary Of the Oklahoma board of
pharmacy, took the mater up with
DR.. Harvey Wiley, chief chemist Of
the department of agriculture, who
is in charge Of the enforcement Of
the pure food law, to see IL ome
relief could not be obtained and the
merchants in the territories placed
on the same footing with those in
the states in regard to disposing of
stocks already on hand. A memoir
ial was sent to DR.. Wiley and another
to Delegate e. s. Mcclure, who
appeared before the pure food COM
mission in behalf of the Oklahomans.
Mr.. Lille has, however, received a
letter from DR.. Wiley stating that he
and the commission fully appreciated
the position of the territories, but
that the wording of the law was such
that they were unable to make any
change for the benefit of the terri
tories.
Every druggist in the two terri
tories must, therefore, write to the
manufacturer of every proprietary
preparation which he carries in stocr
and secured new labels which conform
to the provisions of the new law be-
fore any of these preparations can
be sold. Secretary Lille, who owns
VI
in his stock are articles manufactur-
ed by 1000 firms and persons, and
letters must therefore be sent to
all of these 900 people in order
to secure the protection for the drug.
gist before he can dare to put any
of these medicines on the market.
It Is understood that some OF the
druggists here are taking the
chances and selling without the new
labels, although they ale taking big
chances, as any stranger might prove
to be a pure food inspector. Mr..
Lille has sent out 500 letters so far,
and will write to the other firms as
fast as possible, requesting the Ia
bells required for their goods under
the provision of the new law.
All of the firms addressed have
with very few exceptions made a
prompt response to the request. The
labels which they furnish inform the
public of the contents Of the bottle
of package and the amount oil alco-
hol or narcotic used in the prepara-
ton. All labels must contain these
words: Guaranteed under the food
and drug act, June 80, 1906" That
Is a necessary part of the label, and
nothing can be sold without 1t. One
of the new labels, for catarrh cure,
in addition to the guarantee, states
that the cure contains IA per cent
alcohol used as solvent and to pre-
vent freezing" All preparations
containing alcohol must set forth
the fact in some such words
One very prominent manufactur-
ing firm has refused to place the re-
quired guarantee on its hair tonic
and linement, because they contain
refined wood alcohol, although COM
plying with the law In regard to