Drug legislation in the United States : Rev. to July 15, 1908 / by Lyman F. Kebler.

  • Kebler, Lyman F. (Lyman Frederic), 1863-
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Drug legislation in the United States : Rev. to July 15, 1908 / by Lyman F. Kebler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    DRUG LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES, FEDERAL LAWS. CONDITIONS EXISTING PRIOR TO LEGISLATION IN 1848. Previous to the enactment of the Federal law in 1848 governing the importation of adulterated and spurious drugs, medicines, and chemicals, various forces were at work endeavoring not only to min- imize this dangerous practice, but also to expose fraudulent dealings in medicinal agents of home production. One of the chief objects of establishing the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, 1821, was To direct attention to the quality of drugs brought into the market. The New York College of Pharmacy had for a series of years called attention to the fact that large quantities of sophisticated and misnamed chemical and pharmaceutical prepa- rations were daily imported. The American Medical Association also exerted a powerful influ- ence in bringing about legislation which would tend to prevent the importation of fraudulent medicinal agents. In order to clearly set forth the conditions existing previous to the enactment of the Federal law. House Report No. 664 of the Thirtieth Congress is freely quoted. [House Report No. 664, Thirtieth Congress, first session, to accompany bill H. R. 524.] IMPORTED ADULTERATED DRUGS, MEDICINES, ETC. June 2, 1848, Doctor Edwards, from the select committee to whom the sub- ject was referred, made the following report: The select committee to whom was referred the subject of imported adul- terated drugs, medicines, and chemical preparations report: That in accordance with the requisition of your honorable body your com- mittee directed their attention to the subject referred to them. They have received through the House numerous petitions and memorials from physicians, druggists, and other citizens of the various cities and States, which set forth, as facts, the importation and sale of vast amounts of adulterated, misnamed, and vitiated medical agents used in general practice—medicines familiar to and used by all, and which hold a close relation to the well-being and health of the entire community. Communications of such importance, emanating from sources so respectable, could not but receive our careful consideration. As a specimen, we subjoin the petition and memorial of the American Medical Association, which assembled in Baltimore during the present month. A body of more highly gifted or honor- able men has never assembled for any purpose. Deeply impressed with the importance of the subject, they ask at the hands of Congress legislative action as the only effective means of relief. The petition is as follows: '' The memorial of the American Medical Association, consisting of delegates from the several States in the Union, at their annual meeting in Baltimore,