The work carried on at the Laboratory during the past month has been both analytical and educational, and among the varied lines of investigation, may be mentioned the following:

Spices. The chemical and microscopical data indicates that the spices as obtained in the market are on the whole, very satisfactory. It is true that there are still offered for sale, impure spices but in the majority of cases, these goods are properly labeled. It is quite generally understood among the manufacturers that any adulteration must be prominently declared on the label. The educational efforts along this line mainly through correspondence, have brought about excellent results.

Flavoring Extracts. A large amount of correspondence has been conducted in regard to the matter of extracts in general, and the labels. recently collected, prove that the manufacturers are co-operating with the Board of Health to the effect that all extracts not up to the standards of purity as proclaimed by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall be labeled accordingly. The analytical work

confirms this statement.

For the guidance of those who have not corresponded with the State Laboratory, it may be said that the ruling of the Board of Health in the matter of labeling extracts, is in accordance with United States Food Inspection Decision 47, a copy of which will be sent anyone upon ap

plication to the Director of the Laboratory at Berkeley.

Syrups. An inspection of the labels on syrups today shows a marked difference from those formerly in use. This change has been accomplished mainly through the educational policy. The chemist's reports, however,

indicate that there is still some adulteration being practiced. It must be thoroughly understood that the adulteration is not, as a rule, of an injurious kind. For instance, the addition of cane syrup to a maple syrup, does not appreciably lower the dietetic value of such a syrup but the added mixture is a pecuniary fraud and therefore a violation of the law.

Food Inspection Decisions 75 and 87, reprinted in January and February Bulletins respectively, form the basis of ruling for labeling syrups or mixtures thereof.

Salad Dressing, Pickles, Relishes, etc.-A number of these materials have been recently examined with the result that several have been found to contain benzoic acid or compound thereof, such use not being declared on the label. It would hardly appear that there should be any excuse for such violations in view of the publicity given to this matter by the press, and also in the Board of Health Bulletin for February, 1908. Food Inspection decision 102, relating to the use of sodium benzoate in foods, should be in the hands of all manufacturers of such articles of food.

Colors. Several samples of colors. have been submitted and it would appear from the examination made that the majority of such materials now on the market, conform to Food Inspection Decision 76.

Infant Foods. It has been stated in previous issues of the Bulletin of the State Board of Health, that one important line of investigations which should be undertaken, of nutrition investigations of infants. As an entering wedge, so to speak, for this work, the State Laboratory has inaugurated an investigation of infant foods offered for sale. This is done with the view to be certain that the nutritive value is as it should be and that there be no injurious substances contained therein. In other words, to be certain that the label tells the truth. This line of research will be continued as rapidly as the facilities. of the Laboratory will permit.

Drugs-The examination of drugs has been devoted largely to that of the more important crude, and powdered vegetable drugs of the wholesale drug houses of San Francisco and retail drug dealers around the bay region. Samples have also been received from the southern part of the state. About one-third of those collected has proven to be adulterated in some form or another. The conditions in the outlying retail drug stores are especially bad. Mouldy, insect infested drugs and drugs rendered worthless through age are very common. The prevalent

mouldy condition of vegetable drugs is due in part to the moist atmosphere about the bay and the lack of heating and drying facilities in the

stores.

Further evidence of evidence of educational work of the State Laboratory may be found in the fact that during the last month, the Director of the Lab

oratory was invited to address three different meetings, viz., at Santa Cruz, San Jose and San Francisco. The object in every case was to give a résumé of the work done at the Laboratory during the past year and also special details on the subject of particular interest to the prospective organization.

FOOD INSPECTION OPINIONS. No. 40. The Department of Agriculture in this decision holds that when a general guaranty has been filed with the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with Regulation 9 of the Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906, it should bear the legend, "Guaranteed Under the Food and Drugs Act, 1906," and a serial number assigned thereto. No other words should go upon this legend or accompany it in any way. The filing of this guaranty, however, does not exempt the article from inspection, nor is its grantor free from prosecution in case the article in question is found in any way to violate the Food and Drugs Act of June 30, 1906.

No. 41. In this decision the Department decides that it has no authority under the Pure Food Law to approve any label and that any printed matter upon a label implying that the Department has approved it will be without warrant.

No. 42. In this decision the Department decides the mixing of wheat flour with rye flour prevents the manufacturer from branding the mixture "rye flour," although the wheat flour is only added to produce a lighter and a more easily worked flour.

If this mixture is made it should be labeled "compound" mixture, blend, or otherwise similarly denominated. On the other hand, the use of a small quantity of an ingredient simply for Continued on page 32.

State Dairy and Food Commissioner Renick Dunlap filed his annual report. It is one of the most important filed by this department in years, since the enactment of new laws has brought it into more than the usual prominence.

Attention is called to the fact that the lack of uniformity between the laws of the different states and the federal laws is one of the main hindrances to the enforcement of the food and drug laws. This difficulty has been largely remedied in the last year by the appointment of Commissioner Dunlap by Secretary of Agriculture Wilson as the agent of the National Government in securing evidence against and prosecuting persons violating the Federal Food and Drug Law.

This will give the Ohio Department power to reach manufacturers located outside the state and who may be shipping adulterated or misbranded goods into this state. It is a long step forward in securing pure food and drugs.

Much help has also been given the Ohio Department in the dairy inspection work by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Ohio Department is now devoting much more time and attention to dairy inspection, especially in reference to sanitary conditions and cleanliness, than has ever been done in the past, and the co-operation between the national and state governments can not fail to produce good results.

For a Vigorous Campaign.

During the year an experienced, practical dairyman was appointed by Commissioner Dunlap to make a vigorous campaign in this direction.

The Commissioner strongly recommends that standards for food prod ucts be adopted by the legislature, and thus become the legal standard for the state, instead of leaving such standards to be fixed by rulings of the Commissioner.

It is the policy of the department to prosecute the first offender-the manufacturer-whenever it is possible to reach him. However, there are some instances in which the retailers have been known to substitute inferior goods in containers in which the manufacturer shipped pure goods. In such cases, of course, the retailer is prosecuted.

Attention is called to the fact that publicity is one of the greatest helps in securing pure food and drugs for the consumer, and that the press of the state is the best means for securing publicity. The Commissioner states that the Ohio newspapers have probably been one of the greatest factors in the prevention and extermination of fraud and adulteration and at the same time the great educators in spreading information as to the food and drug laws.

For the first time in the history of the department an exhibit was made last year at the State Fair of food and drug products, showing numerous cases of adulteration and fraud. It

is the intention of the Commissioner to make such an exhibit each year hereafter.

Knocking Out the "Dope."

The Ohio general food and drug law was amended at the last session of the Legislature in two very important particulars. One amendment requires the quantity or proportion of all habit-forming drugs, such as morphine, opium, cotaine, &c., contained in patent or proprietary medicines, to be plainly stated on the label. The other prohibits the use of wood alcohol in any food or drug.

The subject of olemargarine, which has given the department so much concern in the past, has not been as serious a question this year as formerly, because of the vigorous crusade against the illegal sale of this product made by the department during the present administration.

Of 642 samples of milk taken and analyzed during the year 141 were found to be below standard.

The Legislature passed a law prohibiting the use by a milk dealer of the bottles belonging to another, and also the wet distillery waste law, making the feeding thereof illegal when fed to cows from which milk is sold.

About 5,000 groceries were visited during the year, and the conditions in general showed marked improvement. Fewer preservatives and coloring matter are being used than formerly.

The new renovated butter law was passed at the last session to protect consumers against fraud in the sale of this article. It requires all dealers. to label renovated butter so that the customer may know exactly what he is buying. Large quantities of renovated or process butter have been

country butter, and it is believed the passage of this law will to a great extent remedy this evil.

Bear Truthful Labels.

As a result of persistent effort on the part of the department, compound jellies and jams and other compounds and imitations which were formerly mislabeled now generally bear a labėl truthfully and plainly stating the ingredients.

Flavoring extracts, which heretofore were largely below standard or mislabeled, are now, in the main, in compliance with the law.

The Ohio vinegar law was amended to fix standards to conform to the United States standards, excluding glucose vinegar and sugar vinegar, and prohibiting coloring matter in distilled vinegar. The amendments to the vinegar law and other laws. affecting the department as well as the new legislation were the result of urgent recommendations on the part of the department.

The practice heretofore prevailing on the part of many dealers in selling for maple sirup products containing little if any maple does not prevail SO generally as formerly. Many blends of maple sirup and cane sirup are being sold, but not as genuine maple sirup, and if the consumer will read the label he will in almost every instance know what he is getting.

Special articles on glucose and wine by department chemists are included in the report.

The report of the drug inspector shows a decided improvement in drugs sold in Ohio. Jobbers are much more. careful as to the quality of goods. they purchase, as are the retail dealers. The passage of the Rose county local option bill, with the resulting large dry territory, has proved a