TI-IE ANALYST 85 --- TACTICS OF FOOD-ADULTERATORS-A FORGED CIRCULAR, TEE following is tho iext of the circular sent out by certain druggists of Boston, to which we refer editorially in this issue : STATE BOUSE, BOSTON, March 6, 1884. DEAR Sm,-We desire to call your attention to a law that now exists upon the statute-book of Massachusetts, to regulate the sale of drugs, medicines, spices, and all articles of food and drink. The Legislature cf 1882 passed a law which was recom- mended by some parties in the interest of the Pharmacopoeia, and was gotten up by the graduates of the College of Pharmacy and other self-constituted parties, who have com- piied a book, containing about one-eighth of the matter contained in the United States Dispensatory, at a cost of ninety cents per copy, which is sold in the market at $4.00.This book, strange as it may seem, was made in 1882 the legal standard of all articles of food, drink and medicine in this Commonwealth. This book, it d l be remembered, is not the United States Dispensatory, the standard in use by all druggists and physicians, but a commentary or appendix upon this book. The standard of medicine is at variance, in many important respects, with the Dispensatory, and all the preparations are supposed to be prepared in accordance with the metric system. Under the lam, as it now exists, all medicine must be made according to this book, under a fine of $50 ; o€ all articles of food or drink, not laid down in this book, the standard is to be fixed by the State 'Board Gf Health, who can exempt, change, or fix the standard at their own will or pleasure, Under this lam the State Board of Health appointedB.E. Davenport, Professor of Chemistry in the College of Pharmacy, who commenced prosecuting parties for violations of this lam. Some half-a-dozen of the wholesale and retail druggists in Boston and vicinity were brought up before the courts for selling adulterated laudanum, when the same mas made in accordance with the United States Dispensatory formula, in use by every druggist. The offence was that the laudanum mas not made according to this new hand-book, or Pharmacopmia. The new legal formula had increased the strength of laudanum nearing 100 per cent. It was found upon experiment that opium, as imported and usually sold, would not prodace the strength required by the new law, yet these firms were advertised before the country as selling '' adulterated drugs " when they were required to do an impossi- bility, Under the lam, as it now stands, there is hardly a drug, medicine, spice, or article of food sold by any druggist or merchant but what is illegal, and lays the party selling the same liable to a fine of $50.To show to what extremities the State Board of Health 11ave pushed this matter, we will relate a single instance. One of the oldest86 THE ANALYST. and most reliable dealers in canned-goods in Boston was brought up before the court, and fined $50 for selling adulterated vinegar, for the simple reason that it contained one grain of salt in a gallon. This had not been added to the vinegar, but came from the fact that tho cider had been stored in a cask that had some time been used for pickles.Under the law, as it now stands, all medicines or articles of food must either be made by the now edition of the Pharmacopceia, or the standard fixed by the Board of Health, under penalty of $50. This, of course, includes all spices, conserves, confectionery, which are classed as food under the law, also, all patent-medicines and proprietary articles of whatever name or nature. The manner in which this law is framed, and the spirit nith which it has been en€orcecl thus far, marrgnts the belief that the State Board of Health, aided by the Professor of the College of Pharmacy, are determined to drive from the market all preparations that are not made accoriiing to their formula, which outlaws niiiety per cent, of all the medicines now in use, or an arbitrary standard that may be set up, altered, or set aside at the will of a fern men.The State Board of Health has asked for an appropriation of $10,000 to enforce that obnoxious law. A bill has been introduced on lieve to the Legislature, granting the State Board of Health additional powers. Tho following is a copy of the bill :- COMMONWEALTH O F MASSACHUSETTS. IN THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND EIG'IIT HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR. AN ACT TO REGULATE THE SALE OF PATENT-MEDICINES AND PROPRIETARI' ARTICLES. Be it ennrfd by the ~ge.c((fe rind Xome qf Repeseiitntiws, ZM Gennnl (;Yous.t crssemblecl, nizd &J iAc m t h d t y q f the w i i i ~ e , {i,? follozLs * SECTION 1. The Stake Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity shall take samples of all phtent- medicines, prepared food, and any other preparations claimed to have medicinal properties.They shall cause analysis to be made of the same, at the expense of the owners t5creof ; except such medicines and preparations ats are found in the National Pharmacopmia, and having the name of such nrticle marked upon each package. Sec. 2. If, upon analysis, the State Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity find any preparation which, in their opinion, is not a suitable remedy for the purpose intended, or is poisonous or hurtful to the public health, or upon which an exorbitant price has becn fixed, with a view to cheat or defraud the public, they shall forbid the sale of mch aidicle, and notify the omer or owners thereof Sec.3. Whoever shall sell or offer for sale any article, the sale of which is forbidden by the State Board of Healt,h, Lunacy and Charity, as provided in Section 2 of this Act, shall forfeit and pay the gum of fifty dollnrs for each and every offence ; or may be imprisoned in the common jail of the oounty wherein the offence has been committed for a term not exceeding six months. An order has also been introduced, asking that the State Board of Health have power to examine all persons who sell or prescribe medicines, and to license such as they may select. An effort is being made to repeal these obnoxious laws, and do away with the attempt which has been made, during the last ten years, to create a monopoly in the salo of medicine, and place the whole business in the hands of a select few. If you are opposed to granting such extraordinary powers to the State Board of Health, and in favour of the equality of all men before the law, you will see your 8enEttor orTHE ANALYST. 87 Representative in the Legislature, at the earliest possible moment, or write to them, to oppose any further grant of this extraordinary power to the State Board of Healtb, and also to urge the repeal of the present arbitrary and oppressive laws. For further particulars consult with the Counsel for the Remonstrants, EON. CHARLES T. GAUAGETER, Seam Building, 209, Washington Street, Boston, Mass.