BO

The national food and drugs act which was passed by Congress last session, is another step in the preservation of public health, and a big one, too. It prohibits harmful adulteration absolutely, but if mixtures are harmless, they may be sold provided the label states what they really are. Advance in civilization depends upon the inventors and they must be protected or there will be no incentive to build up trade based on new ideas. As a matter of public policy, justice, and common sense, the makers of proprietary foods, therefore, are not required to divulge their formulas, but only enough information to show that there is neither adulteration or misbranding.

Coloring matters are prohibited if they conceal inferiority, but if such a “blend" is properly labeled and is harmless it is permissible. Many people believe that white butter is inferior but they are cheated into buying it at high prices when its inferiority is concealed by yellow coloring matter. Such practices of the "honest farmer" are now punishable. Confectionery likewise must not contain terra alba, barytes, talc, chrome yellow, or anything else for color or flavor if it is injurious to health. A great mistake was made in not directing the labeling of the date of manufacture, but public opinion may compel this change in the law at least we hope so. As we have before explained, the makers who do so will have a great trade advant

age.

Pure drug requirements are very drastic and properly so. Each article must conform to the Pharmacopeial or National Formulary standards or be properly labeled if it differs from the standard. In the case of both food and drug mixtures, the label must clearly state the proportion, if any, of alcohol, morphin, opium, cocain, heroin, alpha or beta eucain, chloroform, cannabis indica, chloral hydrate, or acetanilid. This should kill the worst of the quack mixtures. In short, the law has so many provisions that it is now practically impossible to be deceived by reading the label on the package-indeed any such deception, though not specifically forbidden, is illegal. It is not lawful even to imitate another drug or food unless so labeled. The trade liars are to have a thorny pathway and should have had it years ago. It sounds like the millennium, but we are afraid a few rascals will find some loop-holes unless constantly watched.

The dreadful defect of the law is so immoral that it is really a national disgrace. It is permissible to make anything for export-no matter how filthy or dangerous or fraudulent-if a foreign buyer orders it and it is not in conflict with the laws of the country to which it is sent. If a Chinese merchant wants cheap canned beef made from diseased cattle, he may have it, for China has no laws on this subject, so far as we know. If another man wants sausages made of dogs, he can get them here, if dogs