New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
LACK FOOD INSPECTORS
NEW LAW HANDICAPPED.
DR.. Wiley Says Act Is Practically
InOperatiUe Noe.

Chemists. druggists, physicians ana thelr
guests filed 10 It's capacity last night the lect-
ure hall at the Chemists Club, No. JOS West
both street. to listen to a symposium on the
Pure Food law Professor \. A. Breneman
chairman of the New York section of the Ameri-
can Chemical Society. presided He read paper
on the law. prepared by H. w. Wiley. chief OF
the bureau of chemistry OF the Department OF
Agriculture, who was unable to be present
The other speakers r. L. DooHttle, or
the United States Food Laboratory OF New
York Professor Virgil Coblentz of the New
York College of Pharmacy; Professor NJ d.
Foster. of the College of Physicians and Sur
geons of Columbia University; DIR. Albert Plaut.
w. ]. Schieffelin, J. B. Herreshoff and Dr. Nellls
Barnes Foster.
After the award of the Nichols medal to
Howard B. Bishop for his paper ION the Estl-
nation of Minute Quantities of Arsenic" the
Wiley paper was read. 1t was as follows. in
part:
The Pure Food and Drugs act became effective
January l, 1907 The phrase became effective
r he pecr DC eonns MtM Wc existed It
possible for the Secretary OF Agriculture 10 make
any arrangements looking to the immediate en-
forcement of the act. because no APPROXIMATION @ nad
not until the day before Christmas that the act
appropriating $4,000 for the enforcement OF the
thS IW fer % h int mS ii this
1t was necessary. after this appropriation PHI
sion for examinations for inspectors and chemists
men only; examinations for chemists open to
both sexes The number of inspectors and the
yet determined 1t is probable that the chemical
service will not be concentrated In Washington
but will be distributed tosvarious parts OF the coun-
try: 1t is possible that several new laboratories
Will be established especially for the inspection OF
Questions Of great Importance in connection with
Agriculture, in order that the inspection service
may become effective All manufacturers ana deaII I
rhn D
be encouraged in every possible way SO 'hat 'i'er
The most important question which will be de,
cided by the Secretary is that of preservatves and
cept the ordinary condimental preservatives such
fsrther snr saitpetro It Is logical
TO suppose that the decision under the I3oG ~ nv
meat law and the ultimate purpose Of the lay, as
construed by the Secretary OF AgricultuTe Is ~
excluded from meat products
Professor Coblentz spoke OF the bad effects of
the cocaine and morphine habits. He referred
to the reprehensible habit of certain druggists
who distribute free samples OF catarrh snun
The moral effect of the Pure Food law on chem
icals and drugs. he declared. would be VIDE
spread. Further. he said:
The government will find IT difficult 10 find chem
lists who able to analyze drugs 1t requires
special training. There is no branch or analysis SO
hard for the government chemist will be in anayz-
ing the proprietary preparations Not one M IN q
training can tell the fluid extracts 1t is pity
that the universities do not give more attention 10
that branch OF chemistry.
Professor Foster declared that the moral ef-
feet of the law was good. Some things that
people consider harmless, he said. are not always
so. and, as a matter of fact, it is not known
whether they are harmless or not. The exam
nations are not conclusive. he said
Trials and experiments on animals Professor
Foster said he considered were absolutely
worthless unless for long periods of time. and
in the case OF subtle poison he thought that it
should be not less than year.
Mr.. Schieffen expressed himself generally as
in favor Of the law. saying:
It Is the best thing that has happened in thirty
years for the druggists the chemists. the EroceTs
and the public generally. But they may find #
as for instance. in putting label the grains
an ounce contained in hyp3degmic tablet In the
law prohibiting the sale OF II. except through
sb89nd e IN e e boards 9 of and
pharmacy fine the offenders. but to put them
in jail.
DR.. Albert Plaut said in part:
The quality OF crude drugs in the trade here COM
I remember when the trash OF other countries was
dumped here Now we get the best that money
can buy
r. Z. Doolittle said. IN part:
It would be a hardship 10 force the manufacturers
they sold the public but the trade
] am afraid that our physicians would be deprived
of valuable remedial agents. I think tho trainers
OF the law had the food products in mind at
the time than the chemicals. Tho law will not
only reform. but revolutionize, the sales in the
United States. IL is move in the right direction
A year hence you Will find that those who have
claimed that the regulations severe will
agree that II has worked for the public good and
Incidentally for the benefit of the honest and we'll
meaning dealers.
]. B. Herreshoff spoke technically on the sub
ject OF the testing and publication Of sulphurlc
acid. the expulsion of arsenic from It and from
copper.
MJTcTC uFApO nv yuTpE