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314
It will be observed that only one private purchaser
availed himself of the Acts during the year.
The bulk of the inhabitants arc probably not aware of
their privileges under the Acts, and that for a nominal fee
of half a guinea, purposely made low to meet their convenience,
they can submit samples to the Public Analyst,
and institute prosecutions in cases of adulteration.
The samples taken during the year have not been of a
very varied nature, and there are many articles of food
which are frequently adulterated not included in the list.
No drugs have been taken. It is by no means rare to
come across adulterated drugs, some being mixed with
matter foreign to their composition, and others not being
made up in accordance with the directions in the British
Pharmacopœia, the only official list of drugs in England.
It is of course an offence under the Act for a drug to be
made up of a higher strength than the official one, and very
serious consequences have occasionally arisen from this
cause.
In case it is decided to take drugs during this next
year, I should strongly recommend that no drug be taken
unless under its name in the Pharmacopœia, and that no
drug be taken unless it is included in the Pharmacopœia,
many prosecutions having failed on drugs taken under
popular names.