REPORT 
OF 
Willis G. Tucker M. D., Ph. D. 
ANALYST OF DRUGS. REPORT 
OF WILLIS G. TUCKER, M. D., Ph. D., 
ANALYST OF DRUGS. 
To Woolsey Johnson, M. I)., Chairman of the Sanitary Commit 
tee of the State Board of Health of Hew York: 
Sir —At a conference of the analysts, with the members of the 
Sanitary Committee, held in Rochester, July 30, 1885, the examina- 
tion of drugs and medicinal substances generally, but more particu- 
larly of the officinal drugs and preparations of the United States 
Pharmacopoeia, exclusive of the vegetable alkaloids and those prepa- 
rations into which they enter, was assigned to me. The collection 
and examination of samples was begun September Ist, and I trans- 
mit herewith a report on the work done from that date to the present 
time. It was agreed that the analysts should engage their own col- 
lectors and, with the exception of a few samples purchased bv my- 
self, the articles examined by me have been collected under my di- 
rection by my assistant, Mr, A. G. Losee. The total number of 
samples collected and examined wras 194, and the average cost of 
these samples, including collector’s jper diem and expenses, was a 
traction over twenty-two cents. 
In the selection of articles for examination, rarely used and unim- 
portant drugs were excluded, and regard was had to the results pre- 
viously obtained by analysts in this and other States, those articles 
most likely to be purposely adulterated, of inferior quality or im- 
paired by age, being selected, that no time might be wasted in the 
examination of articles seldom prescribed or almost invariably pure. 
Preference was given to such articles as have a definite standard of 
purity assigned to them in the United States Pharmacopoeia, 
since that work is particularly recognized in the Food and Drug 
Adulteration Law of 1881, and the pharmacopoeial tests and anatyti- 
cal processes were commonly followed. Exhaustive analyses were 
not generally made, since they would have consumed much time 
to little profit, and limited the number of samples examined, but in 
the majority of instances at least one quantitative determination was 
necessarily made. All samples examined have been bottled and fully 
labeled, and the portion remaining upon the completion of the analy- 
sis has been preserved and full records of the same kept. Reports have 
been made to the Secretary of the Board, at the close of each month, 
upon the work done during the preceding month, and these have 
been accompanied with separate reports upon each sample examined. 2 
Annual Keport of the 
Of the 194 samples examined 120 were of officinal drugs and prep- 
arations, and 74 of vinegar, which, although it has been dismissed 
from the United States Pharmacopoeia at the last revision (1880), is 
still retained in those of most other countries. Yinegar, therefore, 
although generally classed with foods, may yet be considered a drug, 
and it having moreover been agreed that the analysts should not 
necessarily be restricted to the fields assigned them, and it being 
deemed advisable, for various reasons, to begin an investigation as to 
the quality of the vinegar sold in this part of the State, a number of 
samples were collected and examined, and it is proposed to continue 
this investigation by the collection of further samples in other local- 
ities. 
I, Drugs. 
Of the 120 samples of drugs examined, 50 were procured in 
Albany, 27 in Troy, 20 in Hudson, 12 in Schenectady, and 11 in 
Amsterdam. With the exception of 12 samples of cream of tartar 
purchased at groceries they were all obtained at drug stores. Of 
the total number there were rated as of 
Good quality 59 or 49.2 per cent. 
Fair quality 35 or 29.2 per cent. 
Inferior quality 23 or 19.1 per cent. 
Sold by error 3or 2.5 per cent. 
Those classed as of “ good quality ” practically conformed to the 
requirements of the United States Pharmacopoeia; those of “fair 
quality” fell not far below those requirements, while those rated 
as “ inferior” were entirely fictitious (as in the case of some of the 
cream of tartars) or of very poor quality. In three cases the article 
sold did not consist of the substance called for. 
The following were the articles examined: 
Citric Acid. (Acidum Citricum, U. S. P.) 
Three samples examined. Nos. 1, 4 and 11. Percentage purity 
respectively 99.73, 99.76, and 97.91. All of fair quality, containing 
traces only of metallic impurities. 
Tartaric Acid. (Acidum Tartaricum, U. S. P.) 
Four samples. Nos. 2,10 and 59 of fair quality, containing traces 
of metallic impurities. Percentage purity respectively 97.82, 99.67 
and 98.00. No. 3 consisted of cream of tartar of good quality, 
doubtless sold by mistake. 
Three samples, of which Nos. 5 and 8 were of fair, and No. 65 of 
good quality. 
lodide of Potassium. (Potassii lodidum, U. S. P.) 
Bromide of Potassium. (Potassii Bromidum, U. S. P.) 
Three samples, of which Nos. 6 and 7 were of fair, and No. 66 of 
good quality. State Board op Health. 
3 
One sample, No. 9, which was of good quality. 
Santonin. (Santoninum, U. S. P.) 
Cream of Tartar. (Potassii Bitartras, U. S. P.) 
Twenty-two samples, of which 10 were purchased at drug stores 
and 12 at groceries. Of the former all were real cream of tartar, 9 
being of good, and lof fair quality. The percentage purity of these 
samples was as follows : 
No. 12 87.19 
No. 13 97.70 
No. 14 94.92 
No. 15 97.43 
No. 16 97.80 
No. 17 97.78 
No. 48 97.67 
No. 49 95.63 
No. 60 * 98.73 
No. 69 97.58 
Average purity, 96.24 per cent. 
Some of the commercial cream of tartar now sold is of an extra- 
ordinary degree of purity, there having been a great improvement 
in this respect during the last few years. 
Of the 12 samples purchased at grocery stores, 2 were of good, 1 
of fair, and 1 of inferior quality, while 8 were grossly adulterated or 
entirely fictitious. The percentage purity of the four first named 
was as follows: 
No. 19 92.26 
No. 20 81.47 
No. 54 • 96.87 
No. 56 79.31 
Average of these four samples of real cream of tartar, BT. 48 per 
cent, being much below that of the preceding samples obtained 
from drug stores. The remaining eight were made up as follows : 
Nos. 18, 21, 22 and 51 consisted chiefly of acid phosphate of 
lime and starch ; No. 23 of sulphate of lime, starch and some 
cream of tartar, the acidity corresponding to 13.24 per cent ; Nos. 
52 and 53 consisted chiefly of sulphate of lime, starch and tar- 
taric acid, the acidity of these samples corresponding to 31.67 and 
30.56 per cent of cream of tartar, and No. 55, which was mainly 
sulphate of lime with some tartaric acid, with an acidity correspond- 
ing to 19.20 per cent. 
The number of samples examined is too small and the territory in 
which they were collected too limited to base conclusions of much 
value upon the results obtained, though it would appear that a pure 
article is much more likely to be sold by the druggist than the grocer, 
whose so-called cream of tartar is often a mere imitation, and a very 
poor one at that. 4 
Annual Report of the 
Alcohol. (Alcohol, U. S. P.) 
Six samples, Nos. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 ; all were of good 
quality. The CJ. S. P. requires “91 per cent by weight of ethyl- 
alcohol.’’ The percentage in these samples was respectively 91.14, 
90.12, .90.16, 90.37, 90.30 and 90.87. Average, 90.49 per cent. 
Stronger Ether. (Aether Fortior, U. S. P.) 
Twelve samples, of which Nos. 31 and 32 were deficient in 
strength; Nos. 30, 104 and 117 were of inferior strength and 
quality; Nos. 11l and 114 were of fair quality, and Nos. 57, 
99, 102, 106 and 120 were of good quality. No. 99 was labeled 
“ Nitrous Ether ”by mistake. Stronger ether, being largely used 
as an anaesthetic, ought to be of good quality, but these results 
show that an article of a quality inferior to that required by the 
pharmacopoeia, is frequently offered for sale. The U. S. P. re- 
quires a specific gravity “not higher than 0.725 at 15 deg. C. 
(59 deg. F.).” The specific gravities of the twelve samples exam- 
ined were as follows: 
No. 30 0.737 
No. 31 0.752 
No. 32 0. 739 
No. 57 0.726 
No. 99 0.724 
No. 102 0.725 
No. 104 0.744 
No. 106 0.726 
No. 11l 0.724 
No. 114 0.724 
No. 117 0.747 
No. 120 0.724 
Purified Chloroform. (Chloroformum Purificatum, IT. S. P.) 
Twelve samples, of which Nos. 33 and 85 were of inferior 
quality and strength; No. 113 of fair quality, and Nos. 34, 58, 
98,10*1, 103, 105, 110,116 and 119 were of good quality. The 
U. S. P. requires a specific gravity of 1.485-1.490 at 15 deg. C. 
(59 deg. F.) The specific gravities of the twelve samples examined 
were as follows: 
No. 33 1.456 
No. 34 1.488 
No. 35 1.450 
No. 58 1.493 
No. 98. 1.490 
No. 101 1.489 
No. 103 1.488 
No. 105 1.488 
No. 110 1.488 State Board of Health, 
5 
No. 113 1.487 
No. 116 1.488 
No. 119 1.489 
1.487 
Carbonate of Ammonium. {Ammonii Carbonas, U. S. P.) 
Ten samples; of which Nos. 36, 115 and 118 were of good 
quality; No. 112 of fair quality, and Nos. 37,38, 100, 107, 108 
and 109 were of inferior quality, having undergone partial de- 
composition. In order to preserve this important medicinal agent 
in good condition it should be kept in well-stopped bottles and in a 
cool place. The results of the analyses made show that it is often 
carelessly kept and partly decomposed in consequence when offered 
for sale. The percentage purity of the ten samples was as follows : 
No. 36 92.66 
No. 37 . .. 66.44 
No. 38 83.03 
No. 100 65.91 
No. 107 69.44 
No. 108 67.87 
No. 109 67.59 
No. 112 79.68 
No. 115 95.10 
No. 118 96 95 
Average of the ten samples, 78.46 per cent. 
Chlorate of Potassium. (,Potassii Chloras, IT. S. P.) 
Five samples, Nos. 39, 40, 41, 60-and 61, all of good quality. 
Reduced Iron. (.Ferrum Peductum, [J. S. P.) 
Six samples were examined, none of which came up to the 
pharmacopoeial standard, which requires 80 per cent of metallic 
iron, but with the exception of No. 42 which consisted of dried 
sulphate of iron, sold through ignorance; the remaining samples, 
Nos. 43, 44, 02, 63 and 64 were considered of fair quality. 
Gallic Acid. (Acidum Gallicum, IT. S. P.) 
Four samples, Nos. 45, 46, 47 and 68, all of good quality, 
Dried Sulphate of Iron. (Ferri Sulphas Exsiccatus, U. S. P.) 
One sample, No. 67, which was of good quality. 
Water of Ammonia. {Apia Ammoniac, U. S. P.) 
Five samples ; Nos. 72 and 73 were of fair, and Nos. 70, 71 
and 91 of good quality, though most of them contained slight 
traces of metallic impurities, sulphates, etc. The U. S. P. requires 6 
Annual Report of the 
“ten per cent by weight of the gas.” The percentage in the five 
samples examined was as follows : 
No. TO 10.81 
No. 71 15.50 
No. 72 8.35 
No. 73 7.89 
No. 91 * 11.08 
Benzoic Acid. {Acidum Benzoicum,, U. S. P.) 
Three samples, of which Nos. 74 and 95 were of good, and No. 
75 of fair quality. 
Oxalate of Cerium. (Cerii Oxalas, IT. S. P.) 
Four samples, Nos. 70, 77, 90 and 97, all of a fair degree of 
purity, though none of them corresponded precisely with the require- 
ments of the U. S. P. 
Magnesia. (Magnesia, TJ. 13. P.) 
Four samples, of which No. 92 was of good quality, Nos. 78, 79 
and 80 only fair. This article is generally carelessly kept, and there- 
fore partially carbonated by exposure to the air. It should bo kept 
in well-closed vessels. 
Washed Sulphur. (Sulphur Loturn, U. S. P.) 
Four samples; Nos. 81 and 93 were of good quality, No. 82 con- 
sisted of precipitated sulphur sold by error, and No. 83 was sub- 
limed sulphur or common “flowers of sulphur.” The pharmaco- 
poeia! requirements are plain, and there is no excuse for the sale of 
an unpurified article or other preparation of sulphur. 
Oxide of Zinc. (Zinci Oxidum, U. S. P.) 
Four samples, Nos. 84, 85, 86 and 94, all of fair quality. 
lodoform. (lodoformum, U. S. P.) 
Four samples, Nos. 87, 88, 89 and 96, all of good quality. 
11. Vinegar. 
The seventy-four samples examined were all purchased at grocery 
stores, eider vinegar being called for in each instance. At a meet- 
ing of the Board held January 16,1883, a standard was adopted for 
cider vinegar under and pursuant to section 4of chapter 407 of 
the Laws of 1881, which standard was “not less than five (5) per 
cent of pure acetic acid ” and “ not less than one and one-half per 
cent of solid matters” on evaporation and drying at 212 deg. F. 
The Massachusetts Law of 1882 required the same percentages in 
the case of all vinegars, but in 1885 was amended and now requires 
“not less than four and one-half per cent by weight of absolute State Board of Health. 
7 
acetic acid ” in all vinegars and “ not less than two (2) per cent of 
cider vinegar solids ” in cider vinegar, and it prohibits the sale not 
only of adulterated or weak vinegar, but of any vinegar for cider 
vinegar which is not made exclusively from apple cider, and like- 
wise the use of any artificial coloring matter. This is a good law, 
for while vinegar made from spirits or otherwise may be equal!}’ 
wholesome, it ought not to be sold for cider vinegar, as is very 
frequently the case. 
An article so largely used in the preparation of food as vinegar 
ought to be both free from adulteration and of good strength as 
well, but the results of the examinations so far made show that 
here as elsewhere wide differences in quality exist. The addition of 
mineral acids is very uncommon, but much vinegar is sold which 
has been plentifully watered, and the greater part of that sold as 
cider vinegar is a so-called white wine vinegar colored by caramel 
with perhaps some cider vinegar added to give it flavor. 
Of the seventy-four samples of vinegar examined, thirty-five were 
purchased in Albany, nineteen in Troy, six in West Troy, four in 
Green Island and ten in Cohoes, Of the total number, eleven or 
14.8 per cent, were found to contain five per cent or over of abso- 
lute acetic acid, and sixty-three, or 85.2 per cent, contained less than 
five per cent and therefore fell below the legal requirement; eigh- 
teen, or 24.3 per cent, contained 4 1-2 per cent or over, and 56, or 75.7 
per cent contained less than 4 1-2 per cent. The highest percentage 
of absolute acetic acid was 6.2 per cent and the lowest 1.8 per cent, 
the average being 4 per cent. 
Per cent 
Number. Acetic Acid. 
121 4.1 
122 6.2 
123 4.0 
124 4.1 
125 4.8 
126 3.5 
127 3.4 
128 5.2 
129 4.1 
130 3.3 
131 5.5 
132 4.3 
133 3.5 
134 3.8 
135 2.3 
136 4.2 
13T 4.7 
138 4.9 
139 5.0 
140 3.8 
141 3.6 
Per cent 
Number. Acetic Acid. 
142 2.9 
143 4.4 
144 4.6 
145 4.3 
146 3.3 
147 3.2 
148 4.0 
149 3.9 
150 5.2 
151 4.3 
152 5.0 
153 4.4 
154 4.2 
155 3.0 
156.... 3.8 
157 2.9 
158 5.0 
159 4.2 
160 4.2 
161 5.0 
162 4.3 8 
Annual Eeport of the 
Per cent 
Number. Acetic Acid. 
163 3.6 
161 3.6 
165 3.9 
166 5 1 
167 1-2 
168 3.7 
169 3.9 
170 1.3 
171 5.0 
172 1.9 
173 1.1 
171 2.1 
175 2.5 
176 3.5 
177 3.7 
178 1.8 
Per cent 
Number. Acetic Acid. 
179 3.1 
180 1.3 
181 1.5 
182 1.1 
183 2.7 
181 3.5 
185 3.8 
186 5.5 
187 3.1 
188 2.8 
189 3.2 
190 3.3 
191 3.5 
192 3.6 
193 1.5 
191 1.1 
Other analyses made for the Board have been as follows 
Four samples. One of these was from a city well, and furnished 
so striking an example of drinking water contaminated by excre- 
mentitious matter, probably serving as the medium of disease 
transmission, that the report made at the time is appended. 
W ATER. 
Albany, September 10, 1885. 
Dr. A. L. Carroll, Secretary State Board of Health, Albany, H. Y.: 
Dear Sir— I have made an analysis of a sample of well water 
from premises No. 308 Third street, Albany, sent to me September 
5, 1885, by Dr. B. U. Steenberg of Albany, by request of Mr. 
Carman. The results point to gross contamination of the water. 
A death from diphtheria occurred in this house very recently and 
three other deaths from the same disease are known to have occurred 
in the immediate vicinity within a short time. I visited the prem- 
ises on the sth inst., with Dr. Steenberg and found the well, said to 
be thirteen feet deep, dug in a sandy soil and situated directly in the 
rear of the house. A privy with vau’t said to be eight feet deep 
and full to the surface of the ground, was situated about seventy feet 
from the well. A drain pipe from the second story of the next 
house on the east discharged within a few feet of the well upon the 
surface of the ground, the slop water, etc., from the same flowing 
back upon the lot and soaking into the ground. The condition of 
things described as existing upon these premises is essentially the 
same in all others in this neighborhood. There is no drain in the 
street, as I am informed, west of Thornton street and no water mains 
laid. Foul privies abound on all sides, and the water supply is drawn State Board of Health. 
from shallow wells dug in sand, in some cases within a few feet of 
the privies. Much drainage is discharged upon the surface of the 
ground, and as there are no pavements in this immediate locality it 
soaks into the sandy soil. Such a condition of things is in the 
highest degree insanitary, and it is certainly not surprising if diphthe- 
ria, typhoid fever and other infectious diseases are of frequent oc- 
currence, as is said to be the case. 
Analysis. 
Color and appearance Clear, Colorless. 
Odor at 100 degrees F None. 
Chlorine, grains per U. S. gallon 13.42 
Free ammonia, parts per million 6.400 
Albuminoid ammonia, parts per million 0.340 
Total solids, grains per U. S. gallon 88.72 
Loss on ignition, grains per U. S. gallon 43 78 
Mineral matter, grains per U. S. gallon 44.94 
Vcry respectfully yours, 
WILLIS G. TUCKER. 
Samples of water from Kingston (city water supply) and from 
Oneida lake (two analyses) were also analyzed. The former were 
reported October 9, and the latter November 10, 1885. 
Kerosene. 
Six samples have been submitted for examination with the follow- 
ing results; 
Flashing point. Degrees F. 
No. 8686 100 
No. 8687 100 
No. 8688 100 
No. 8689... 100 
No. 8690 99 
No. 8691 100 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
WILLIS G. TUCKER, 
Chemical Laboratory, Medical College, Albany, N. 
Y., February 22, lt>B6. 
Analyst.