DRUGS. Substances used in medicine, sold by druggists, and compounded by apothecaries and physicians. Our continental neighbours, wiser than ourselves, not merely require that persons engaged in selling and dispensing drugs and pharmaceutical preparations shall be fully qualified by previous education and training for the task, but also that the various articles they sell and use shall be commercially pure and of the proper quality. In the United States of America this subject has also engaged the attention of the government and legislature. Under the Act of the 26th June, 1848, inspectors were appointed to examine the quality of imported articles of this class before allowing them to pass the Customs for home use. An abridged copy of the order addressed to the “collectors and other officers under this act” is appended, and will be useful to the reader, as assisting to establish a standard by which the value of the substances named therein may be estimated.
Treasury Department, June 4th, 1853.
The following articles are to be entitled to entry when ascertained by analysis to afford the per-centages as under, viz.:— Aloes, 80% of pure aloetic extract. Assafœtida, 50% of its peculiar bitter resin, and 3% of volatile oil. Cinchona Bark,[264] 1% of pure quinine, or 2% of the several alkaloids, as quina, cinchona, quinidine, aricine, &c. Benzoin, 80% of benzoin resin. Do. 12% of benzoic acid. Colocynth, 12% of colocynthine. Elaterium, 30% of elaterine. Galbanum, 60% of resin. Do. 10% of gum, and 6% volatile oil. Gamboge, 70% of pure gamboge resin, and 2% of gum. Guaiacum, 80% of pure guaiacum resin. Gum Ammoniacum, 70% of resin, and 18% of gum. Jalap,[265] 11% of pure jalap resin. Myrrh, 30% of pure resin, and 50% of gum. Opium, 9% of pure morphia.
Rhubarb,[266] 40% of soluble matter. Sagapenum, 50% of resin, 30% of gum, and 30% of volatile oil. Scammony, 70% of pure scammony resin. Senna, 28% of soluble matter. Medicinal leaves, flowers, barks, roots, extracts, &c., not specified above, must be, when imported, in perfect condition, and of as recent collection and preparation as practicable. Pharmaceutical and chemical preparations, whether crystallised or otherwise, used in medicine, to be pure and of a proper consistence and strength, as well as of perfect manufacture, conformably with the standard authorities named in the Act; and must, in no instance, contain over 3% of excess of moisture or water of crystallisation. Essential or volatile oils, and expressed oils used in medicine must be pure and of the standard sp. gr. noticed and declared in the dispensatories named in the above Act. “Patent” or “Secret Medicines” are by law subject to the same examination as other medicinal preparations, and cannot be permitted to pass the Custom-house for home consumption, but must be rejected and condemned, unless the special examiner is satisfied, after due investigation, that they are fit and safe to be used for medical purposes. An appeal from the examiner to the collector to be admitted within 10 days.
James Guthrie,
Secretary to the Treasury.
[264] Of whatever denomination.
[265] Root in powder.
[266] Only Turkey, East Indian, and Russian, admissible.
DRUM′MOND LIGHT. See Light (Artificial).
DRUNK′ENNESS. See Abstinence, Intemperance, &c.