In a letter published in the Times, Dr. Hassan makes
sonic remarks on the great diminution iu the practise of adulteration, and the successful operation of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. The per-centage of adulteration of articles of food and drink from 1851 to 1854 inclusive was 4:31.59, according to Dr. Hassall's reports in the Lancet on the subject. It is now officially quoted as 17.2,—an immense improvement. Dr. Ffassall, who is undoubtedly an authority of groat weight on the subject, does not deny the vast diminution of adulteration, but thinks that the figures above given are too low, as allowance should be made for the fact that most of the samples of food which are analysed are purchased by the police, who are, of course, served with the purest articles, when recognised, as they usually are. .Drugs suffer more than food from adulteration, one-quarter of all the drugs tested being impure. It is to be hoped that the per,centage of adulteration in this department will soon drop as low as in the case of food. Drugged drugs would seem espe- cially deserving of suppression, as they tamper, more or less, with bodies already out of health.
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