Faraday to Stephen Walcott¹   6 April 1853

Royal Institution, 6th April, 1853.

Sir, - I am not a medical man, and do not think that I ought to judge of the degree of facility with which a medical man of average knowledge would be able to examine, at first rapidly and then more carefully, the many substances in the list you sent to me²; but my impression is that it would be unwise to trust to examination if a simpler and surer means can be adopted of securing the possession of fit and proper medicines. The examination, to be available, should be made in every instance before the ship sails, or even before the medicines go on board the ship, and should be extended to every separate packet, or else at the time when the thing is wanted, then only is it discovered to be wrong. We see too frequently in the state of boats on board of ships, when the latter come into danger from collision or wreck; or in the state of life-saving apparatus, as lately at Aberdeen³; or in the state of preserved meats sent into the Government warehouses, where examiners are appointed and the duty is precise, how important it is to make the state of matters good at the beginning, and to secure them so in continuance; and this I think will be best done in the matter of medicines, by trusting as little as may be to after examination, and by dependence in the first instance on the established character of the sources from which they are obtained. No doubt it is a ground of annoyance and complaint to an honourable and just house to be shut out from a trade where honour and justice become points of distinction. But the first, and by far the highest consideration, is the welfare of the passengers in the ships, whatever difficulty may arise in other respects, that, I think, ought not in the least degree to be departed from; and in the case of medicines, I think that will be best secured by depending on the character (established beforehand) of the sources from whence they are obtained, rather than by trusting to after examination⁴.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient Servant, | (Signed) M. Faraday

To S. Walcott, Esq.