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More Proposed Label Legislation. H. R. 9832.

A bill has been introduced into the House of Representatives at Washington which is really an amendment to the Food and Drugs Act and seeks to make the labels on all drugs and medicines. shipped in interstate commerce show the true contents and proportions of ingredients, and placing the enforcement in the hands of the Secretary of Agriculture.

Since this amounts to a straight declaration of formula which is the manufacturer's stock in trade, there is little hope in our opinion that it will become a law in its present form. Laws which have deliberately sought to give to the public. trade secrets have rarely been enacted and we do not believe this one will.

The text of the bill is as follows: SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That it shall be unlawful to introduce into any State or Territory or the District of Columbia from any other State or Territory or the District of Columbia or from any foreign country or to ship to any foreign country any article of canned food unless a statement shall be plainly printed upon the label thereof, showing the year the same was canned and showing also the true contents thereof and the proportions of each ingredient therein.

SEC. 2. That it shall likewise be unlawful to introduce into any State or Territory or the District of Columbia from any other State or Territory or the District of Columbia or from any foreign country or to ship to any foreign country any drug or medicinal product or compound inclosed in any bottle or other container and intended to be sold at retail unless there shall be plainly printed upon a label upon such bottle or other container a statement showing the true contents thereof and the proportions of each ingredient therein.

SEC. 3. That it shall be unlawful to introduce into any State or Territory or the District of Columbia from any other State or Territory or the District of Columbia or from any foreign country or to ship to any foreign country any article of food, drugs, or medicinal products

or compounds in bulk, to be thereafter placed in containers suitable for the retail trade, with the intent to evade the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. That nothing in this State shall be construed as repealing any of the provisions of the Act approved June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and six, entitled "An Act for preventing the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or deleterious

foods, drugs, medicines, and liquors, and for regulating traffic therein, and for other purposes," or any Act amendatory thereof.

SEC. 5. That the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to prescibe all needful rules and regulations for carrying this Act into effect, and it shall be unlawful for any person to violate any such regulations, and upon conviction of such violation shall be punished to the same extent as for the violation of any of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. That any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this act, or any lawful regulation duly made and promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and for each offense shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not to exceed $500, or shall be sentenced to one year's imprisonment, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court, and for each subsequent offense and conviction thereof shall be fined not less than $1,000 or sentenced to one year's imprisonment, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

Secretary of Agriculture Makes Annual Report.

PLAN TO REORGANIZE THE DEPARTMENT.

To promote the condition, allow greater latitude in carrying out of projects, and to establish a more logical handling of regulatory work and research, investigation and demonstration work, the Secretary will ask the Congress in the coming estimates for authority to prepare a plan for reorganizing, redirecting, and systematizing the work of the Department as the interests of economical and efficient administration may require. This plan

would be submitted in the fiscal estimates for 1916. It is believed that the Department can best carry on its functions and carry its information to the people it seeks to serve, probably by having its work conducted in five or six main groups such as a research service, a regulatory service, a State relations service, a rural organization service, a forest service, a weather service, and others as special occasion might warrant.

PROMOTION BASED ON EFFICIENCY.

A system of efficiency ratings affecting all clerical and subclerical employees, designed to eliminate all danger of favoritism and to provide for promotion entirely upon merit, has been established.

Increased efficiency and considerable economy have been gained through changes in the handling of fiscal matters.

It is recommended that the Department be given authority to increase the minimum salary of $4,000 which now can be paid to scientific investigators. It is pointed out that many of the leaders in the Department could command salaries in many cases more than twice what they are receiving.

COUNTRY TO BE DISTRICTED TO ENFORCE FOOD AND DRUGS ACT.

Certain reorganizations have been ef

fected in the Bureau of Chemistry looking

toward more effective administration of the Food and Drugs Act and to greater constructive technological assistance to manufacturers in avoiding waste, reducing cost of manufacture and to help them develop purer products which will comply with the law. The country will be divided into several districts each under the direction of a competent official. All branch laboratories and food inspectors will be under single direction and will work together instead of being independent of each other, a condition which led to lack of coordination in the past. Certain branch laboratories will be consolidated because the work can be done more effectively and more cheaply in the larger central laboratories which are provided with complete equipment and specializing chemists. Effort will be made to make the act more of a hygienic measure through increased attention to milk, eggs, oysters, and fish, which are subject to organic contamination and may become carriers of disease.

To bring about greater harmony in the work of the State food officials and the

Department in food and drug work, the Secretary called a conference which was attended by representatives of 32 states, the District of Columbia and Porto Rico. It is believed that this conference has promoted much better understanding and will lead to a number of specific improvements. An office which will act as a clearing house of information among the state and federal food and drug officials will be established to prevent duplication of work and promote harmonious action and co-operation. Experience has revealed certain weaknesses in the food and drugs act-notably the lack of provision for legal standards, and its failure to apply to certain external remedies. The Secretary will ask that authority be granted to prepare and submit such amendments to this law as may be deemed needful to safeguard the health of the people, establish standards, better define drugs, improve the food supply and promote uniformity in the matter of food legislation.

PROSECUTIONS UNDER FOOD AND DRUGS ACT AND OTHER REGULATORY ACTS.

Prosecutions under the Food and Drugs Act and other regulatory statutes will be expedited and made still more effective. through co-operation with the Department of Justice whereby the Solicitor will

prepare cases in the form of criminal informations and place at the service of the U. S. District Attorneys in the trial of cases the Department's attorneys who are thoroughly familiar with the highly technical and technological aspects of many of these causes. Under the Food and Drugs Act, 1048 cases were transmitted to the Department of Justice. Fines 596 criminal cases, and decrees of conamounting to $23, 463.50 were imposed in demnation and forfeiture entered in 365 other cases. other cases. Eight hundred and sixtyseven Notices of Judgment were published. The courts have evinced a disposition to impose more severe penalties in food and drug cases.

Putting it up Quick.

William, who was erecting an edifice out of building blocks, showed such unusually bungling workmanship that his father, who is a carpenter, took him to task.

"What kind of a shack do you call that?" he asked the boy.

"Oh, that's all right, papa," replied William, "I'm building it to rent."-The Wasp.

Oils of Birch and Wintergreen Now

Under Surveillance.

Twelve shipments of oil purporting to be Oil of Birch or Oil of Wintergreen have been seized in interstate commerce.

The goods were seized on the allegation, either that they were adulterated and misbranded in being offered for sale as oil of birch or oil of wintergreen when, in fact, the goods contained added manufactured methyl salicylate; or were colored in a manner to conceal inferiority.

Federal food and drug inspectors are giving special attention to shipments of oil of birch and oil of wintergreen, in order to prevent a widespread practice on the part of shippers of mixing a small quantity of natural oil of birch, which costs from $1.50 to $2.00 a pound, or oil of wintergreen, which is worth $4.25 to $4.50 a pound, with synthetically or artifically made methyl salicylate worth only 30 to 33 cents per pound.

Those who think they are buying natural oils and get the artificial substance in lieu of any part, pay from five to fifteen times the real price of the synthetic drug.

In none of these instances has the case been tried, nor has the question of whether the charges are justifiable yet been passed upon by the court.

Kentucky Legislature to Convene.

The Kentucky Legislature begins a sixty day session in January and the pharmaceutical brethren are in doubt. as to what will be attempted in the way of legislation affecting Pharmacy.

The trade in Kentucky is very well organized at present through its state and local associations and its legislative Committees will be on hand at the Capitol to safeguard its interests.

The personel of the legislative Committees is as follows: For the Kentucky State Association, Robt. J. Frick, Chairman, of Louisville; H. K. McAdams, of Lexington, and Clyde Grady, of Smithmills; for the Louisville Association, Robt. J. Frick, Chairman, Wm. Votteler and Emanuel Meyers.

The Balkan War has brought about a rise in certain lumber prices of Europe, because of the big demand for wood for ammunition boxes.

-:- Boards of Pharmacy -:

Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy.

At the examination given by the State Pharmaceutical Examining Board, in Pittsburg and Philadelphia, on Novemver 7 and 8, sixty-three persons applied for registration as pharmacists. Thirtythree passed the examinations and thirty failed. Of the 153 applicants for qualified assistant pharmacist certificates, 110 were successful and forty-three failed. The names of those successful were as follows:

PHARMACISTS.

James C. Alexander, George L. McMillin and William H. Lysscomb, of Pittsburgh; Albert L. Kossler, Crafton; Harry J. Garvey, Charleroi; Walter W. Siegel, Erie; Charles R. George, Juniata; Michael Strozzi, Buffalo, N. Y.

George W. Carey, Harry E. Casey, M. Beatrice Comber, Arthur J. Durand, Alfred M. Evans, Leonora G. Fetters, Meyer S. Glauser, Ralph A. Hurley, Aaron Lipschutz, Michael J. Mandarino, Pilibos Movsesian, Charles A. McBride, all of Philadelphia.

Earle O. Bong and Alvin H. Kern, of Allentown; Howard J. Koch, Coopersburg; Agnes Duvoisin, Clifton Heights; Fanny Ferry, Freeland; Wilford G. Stauffer, New Holland; Lloyd P. Griesemer and C. Raymond Moyer, of Reading, Harold A. McKean, Ridley Park; John J. Bridgeman, Jr., West Chester; Marvin A. Shales, Wilkes-Barre; John F. Keppler, Williamsport; Jan. S. Jorczak, Thorndike, Mass.

QUALIFIED ASSISTANTS.

Arthur L. Baer, Ernest Davies, Lee A. Donaldson, George M. Gillen, Leo F. Jerome, James J. Klavon, William J. Kirsch, Theodore W. McDermott, John W. Rouzer, Howard A. Ward, all of Pittsburgh.

William H. Seeds, Altoona; Elmer Bierwith, Bellevue; Clyde T. Reed, Butler; Charles H. Lee, Charleroi; Leslie R. Davies, Crafton; Martin Kovacs, S. Potter Brown, Jr., J. V. Stephenson, Jr., Greensburg; Harold Marsh, Irwin; Guss A. Bitner, Jeannette; Carl J. Dumeyer, Johnstown; Henry D. Primas, Lock No. 4.

George A. Herd, Connellsville; John B. Torry, Cambridge Springs; Stanley A. Guskea, Monongahela; Edward H. Hoak, Elmer Thomas McKeesport, Daniel Kovacs, McKees Rocks; Cecil Anthony, Natrona; Harry L. Miller, Washington; Glenn B. Hamilton, Fairmount, W. Va.; James A. Archibald, Wheeling, W. Va.

Leon H. Anthony, M. Lewis Augenblick, Louis N. Blaustein, J. William Bright, Samuel M. Chenkin, Benjamin Cohen, Parker B. Creep, William Eidelson, Isaac S. Gadol, John H. Gralnick, Paul L. Hartnett, William Hendrie, John W. Holloway, Abraham Hurwitz, Morris Kabacoff, Louis Kron, Matthew

I. Lasley, Owen B. Law, Michael Meisel, George N. Netsky, Everett J. Roberts, John A. Ruplis, Harry M. Sagosky, Morris Senn, Robert J. Stewart, Charles F. Siegfried, Harvey A. Shiley, Edith Schofield, David L. Subin, Walter Weidler and Joseph L. Wilder, all of Philadelphia.

Vincent P. O'Neill, Ashland; Samuel A. Tretheway, Boyertown; Harold Schoonover, Carbondale; Fred L. Carn, Claysburg; Paul F. Houser and Harry W. Null, Chambersburg, Lester Y. Brendle and Raymond G. Gibney, Coatesville; John E. Collins, Conshohocken; Walter R. Scher, Dushore; Chalmer J. Durand, Easton, Alpheus W. Resser, East Berlin; Earl S. Gottschall, Eddystone; Laroy L. Pennypacker, Fort Washington; John A. Fiscel, Gettysburg; Calvin E. Bell, Huntington; Joshua Israel, Lawndale.

J. William Shaffer, William H. Snyder, Lebanon; Clark M. Miller, Lewiston; C. Paul Mallard, Llanerch; George W. Gerhard, Macungie; William A. Wallace, Charles Whitman, Middletown; Harry L. Guers, Pottsville; Daniel B. Nagel, Henry Mathias, Paul E. Rhoads and C. LeRoy Wall, Reading; Walter W. Rex, Slatington; Clayton H. Mouer, Shippensburg; George W. Samuel, Stroudsburg, Frank J. Reddon, Susquehanna; William M. Kemner, Tamaqua; Robert A. Levy, Trumbauersville; Gerald J. Ruddy, and Martin Y. Smulyan, Wilkes-Barre.

Isaac D. Kinley, Williamsport; Asher M. Hawk, Harold E. Werkheiser, Wind Gap; A. Hastings Fitzskee, Wrightsville; Louis J. Kleinfeld, Alliance, N. J.; Harold McAleer, Bridgeton, N. J.; Lawrence G. Beisler, Hilton; N. J.; William J. B. Clymer, Phillipsburg, N. J. Thomas A. Cramer, Point Pleasant, N. J.; Martin F. Carmody, Syracuse, N. Y. The next examinations will be held in Harrisburg on March 14, 1914.

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The results of the examination held November 21 and 22, at the Tulane University, New Orleans, for certificates as registered pharmacists and qualified assistants are as follows: There were eighteen applicants, of which Ralph Donaway of New Orleans was awarded a certificate as registered pharmacist. Those awarded certificates as qualified assistants were George McDuff of New Orleans and B. B. Kennedy, of Pinola, Miss.

Edward H. Walsdorf, Secretary of the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy, is just in receipt of his commission from Gov. Luther E. Hall reappointing him as a member of the Board to succeed himself. Mr. Walsdorf has been a member of the Board for the last five years and his reappointment comes as an endorsement of the good services he has rendered for the advancement of the condition of pgarmacy in this state. Mr. Walsdorf stands

very high in his profession in this state and is the proprietor of two of the leading drug stores in the upper section of the city. In conduct of his office in the enforcement of the State Pharmacy Laws he has adopted the policy of prosecution instead of persecution thereby increasing the efficiency of the druggist through his co-operation rather than antagonism.

Mr. Walsdorf is very active in his profession being a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, President of the Louisiana State Pharmaceutical Association, member of the Orleans Pharmaceutical Association and a member of the Board of Control of the American Druggist Syndicate and is very active in civic and fraternal circles of the city and state.

Joy Een Da Nose.

My nose eet ees a varra funny theeng!
Eet always please' me besta een da spreeng,
For dat'sa time mos' evra breeze dat blows
Eees breeng som' kind of flower to my nose.
So, even een da ceety, evratheeng
Dat grows I like da smal of een da spreeng.

Som' smals een summer too, I like, but not So moocha like da spreeng; dey are too hot. An' som' of dem you meet upon da street Dey are too ripe for w'at you calla "sweet;" But steell een summer when ees com' da rose Eet maka moocha pleasure een my nose.

Een fall, w'en com's da frost upon da breeze,
I smal da leaves dat die upon da trees
An' flowers dat are een deir graves, an' gat
No pleasure een my nose at all from dat.
But steell we have da fruit, an' best of all,
I like da smal from apples een da fall.

Dere ees no sweet perfume een snow an' ice,
An' so to me da weenter ees not nice,
But steell da smal of peanuts w'en dey roast
Ees warm an' sweet een weenter-time. But
most

I like dees pipe tobac' beneath my nose,
Dat keep do blama theeng from gattin' froze.
T. A. DALY in New York Times.

A Good Reformer.

"Say, Dad, I'm writing an essay on a man who held the chairs of botany, meteorology, physiology, chemistry, and etomology in a small college. Would you refer to such a man simply as Professor?"

"No, Jonnie, I'd call a man who could hold as many chairs as that an acrobat."

-Woman's Home Companion.

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Referring to the demise of the local association, I consider it most disastrous to the pharmaceutical life and welfare of this locality. It is also unfortunate for the State Association, as if there is no local interest it will be hard to find or create interest in that organization.

I can attribute the death of the Dayton Association to but one of two causes: lack of interest, or gross selfish interest. Each could and did cause a small attendance at the meetings for several years and in the past six months a complete absence, even to the Secretary.

Gross selfish interest may have existed to the extent that each member was afraid

to leave his store for fear his neighbor would be benefited by the sale of a few stamps, or a package of Epsom salt or a $1. article for which he would receive 69 cents. No other cause that I can imaagine could have stood in the way, as had any other causes existed, the meeting was the place to discuss and remove them.

I do not believe reorganization on the old lines is possible with the present material. We have in Dayton an organization which is a combination of all the organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, known as the Greater Dayton Association (G. D. A.) sometimes referred to as the Gold Dollar Association.

Many organizations have become a part of this and are the better for it as the G. D. A. will have 10,000 members all working together and taking up and working for the betterment of each branch. Should any one branch, trade or profession have a plan that is for its betterment and for the general good and welfare, it can be taken up by the whole association and stands more chance of being put over than in a small organization of a few members. For instance, the Retail Druggists Association several years ago drafted and endeavored to have passed by the City Council a carbolic acid ordinance, making the sale of carbolic acid in the city (except on prescriptions and on other

minor exceptions) illegal if stronger than ten percent phenol solution. This was turned down, while had there been the pressure of such an association as the G. D. A., this would now be an ordinance and the public benefitted thereby.

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The Ideal Pharmacist from the Physician's Standpoint.' *

These requirements from the standpoint of the physician, we would like mandments, which in our opinion ought to best to put down in the form of ten combe as sacredly observed as those of our Holy Bible. They are as follows:

should be laid with a high grade of pre1. The foundation for the pharmacist liminary education. He must possess more than ordinary every day education of the average man. This is necessary for the more intelligent understanding of the practice of the principles of pharmacy; it creates a more intelligent worker, perhaps a broader minded man. The pharmacist must also be morally fit for the profession, ready and willing to entail sacrifices; he must not be over-ambitious as a business man, but rather inclined toward professionalism.

2. The pharmacist should indeed be a pharmacist, well trained in his profession, thoroughly qualified, and able to perform the numerous techniques in pharmacy, and not to be dependant solely upon ready made products of the factory. He must be a prescriptionist, able to read and interpret a prescription; able to criticize it, to detect incompatibilities. He must be familiar with the doses of the ingredients, well versed in pharmaceutical arithmetic, to be able to make correct computations, and last, but surely not.

*Abstract of a paper read at the Joint Meeting between physicians and pharmacists held on October 6th, at the New Grand Central Palace, New York City, in connection with the First Annual Drug Trade Exhibition, and reprinted from the Bulletin of the New Jersey State College of Pharmacy.

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