The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-13
PURE FOOD LAWS
WILL Be ENFORCED
Successor to DR.. Wiley Tells
Medicine Dealers What They
Must Expect.
ASKS THEIR ASSISTANCE
Praises Efforts OF Press for
Praises Efforts OF Press for
Good Results Already
Attained.

New York. February 12.-Dr. Carl
l.. Alsberg. Chief of the Bureau of
Chemistry of the Department of .Agri-
culture. in his first public utterance
since he was appointed to succeed DR..
Harvey Wiley. told the members OF
the Association OF Manufacturers of
Medicinal Products here to-nighI that
he Intended to enforce tho pure FOOD
laws as strictly as possible. He asked
proprietary medicine manufacturers t.
aid him to reduce the sale OF narcotics
TO tho lowest possible point.
The eyes of the people," said DR..
Alsberg, have centred upon the de-
partments struggle for pure foods.
The work OF the department has. I
think you will admit. been successful
In Improving the quality OF our foods
and preventing grave forms of fraud
ana adulteration. We realize fully
that much remains to be done, but
pubic confidence has been won, and
precedents have been created No
backward step will be taken. There
VIII DO no let up in the enforcement
OF the pure food and drugs act"
Asks Their Aid.
Just prior to this statement, Dr. Ais
oerg asked that the patent medicine
manufacturers combine with his bu-
reau TO bring about government CON
troll of tho salo and regulation In tho
handling, OF all patent medicines INA
narcotics. He also askou that these
same manufacturers begin the agita-
ton for uniform Legislation in all
States with tho same object In view.
while the efforts OF the Department
OF Agriculture" continued DR.. Ais
berg, in SO far as the control of the
1000 products over which 1t has ju-
risdiction Is concerned, have been at
tended with considerable success. this
has been true to a less degree with
drugs and medicines. The fault has
been in part with Unforeseen loop
holes In the law. I do not wish to
imply that nothing has been accom-
plished On the contrary. as you arc
well aware. through the great powers
over imports vested In the Secretary
or the Treasury. the Department OF
Agriculture has succeeded I'm Keeping
out of the country all crude drugs of
an Inferior quality.
1t is far different with the domestic
nostrums because the domestic man
ufacturcr knows how to advertise, no
existing Federal law can adequately
protect the people The Sherlcy act
VIII. we hope, enable us to compel the
removal Of all false and fraudulent
matter from the package
Gloomy as the outlook seems, there
is yet ray of hope. 1t is the atti-
tude OF small but powerful portion
of the press itself, which has yolun-
tarily secured it's advertising columns
TIL they contain only clean and honest
matter.
Great Task Remains.
Even II we succeed in protecting the
people from quack medicines. Il great
task remains. This is to protect them
from habit-forming drugs, such as
opium and cocaine. We are all agreed
that something must be done to con
q ri
only differences OF opinion concern the
best means of accomplishing this end
without the help of the Federal
government no reforms can be intro
duced because the States by them
selves cannot control tho supply If
these drugs were produced in this
country IL would be exceedingly diff
cult to keep track OF and to trace the
supply. It would require an expen-
sive police force to control the supply
Of these drugs, and 1t is doubtful
whether this control could ever be
made efficient Fortunately. the stu
alton is not so difficult. Virtually ali
our supply of these drugs is imported.
1T is therefore feasible, II the State
and Federal governments cooperate, to
keep an accurate record OF the fate
of all of each consignment imported
through the wholesaler and jobbcr
down to the pharmacist physician. den
fist and veterinarian. If the Federal
government does it's share, State OFF,
Gals, by an examination OF Federal
records. will be able to learn what
quantities of narcotics are coming into
the State and to whom they are con-
signed. Each State will then he in a
position to control these scourges OF
our people. This evil must be stamped
out. ! propose to use every lawful
means at the command of the Bureau
of Chemistry to accomplish this end.
Gentlemen, ] wish TO have n clear
understanding with YOU. l hope that
now we can pledge each other to work
together for the common good"