Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Including Pharmaceutical Review, 26 volumes; Pharmaceutical Archives, 6 volumes;
The Midland Druggist, 10 volumes.

No. 1.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

United States, $1.00; Canada, $1.35 per annum.

Foreign countries in Postal Union, $1.50 per annum.

Remittances with subscription.

Published on the 1st of each month by The Midland Publishing Company, Columbus, Ohio.
Entered at the Postoffice at Columbus, Ohio, as second class matter.

EDITORIAL NOTICE.

The opinions and policies of this publication are given expression in its editorial columns. Our remaining columns are open to contributions upon any topic of pharmaceutical interest, it being understood that the views there expressed are those of the contributors, and do not necessarily imply editorial endorsement.

THE CLOSING YEAR.

'TIS midnight's holy hour, and silence now

Is brooding like a gentle spirit, o'er

The still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds.
The bell's deep tones are swelling; 'tis the knell
Of the departed year. No funeral train
Is sweeping past; yet on the stream and wood,
With melancholy light the moonbeams rest,
Like a pale, spotless shroud; the air is stirred
As by a mourner's sign; and on yon cloud
That floats so still and placidly through heaven,
The spirits of the season seem to stand-

Young Spring, bright Summer, Autumn's solemn form,

And Winter with his aged locks, and breathe

In mournful cadences, that come abroad

Like the far wind-harp's wild and touching wail,

A melancholy dirge over the dead year,

Gone from the earth forever.

[blocks in formation]

THE

THE DUFFEY LAW.

HE Duffey Law, or more properly the Ohio Anti-Narcotic Law has now been in operation for about six months.

The officials in charge of its enforcement have been active in their effort to enforce it to the full, and if we are to judge by the numerous expressions which we hear, they have been quite successful in their efforts.

Complaints, however, against it are coming from several sources: from druggists, from physicians, from humanitarians and from private individuals.

The Agricultural Commission admits that it is in a quandary as to what should be done with the poor victims of the drug habit who are suddenly and wholly deprived of their daily rations. Many distressing stories have come to the Commission and to this office and at the office of the Commission we have been told of cases of suicide reported as resulting from the enforcement of this act.

Rumor has it that the Agricultural Commission is intending to ask the Governor for some modification of the law to enable physicians or druggists or both to meet these extreme cases, and also rumor has it that the Governor is to be asked to place before the Legislature the proposition of providing an asylumn, specifically naming the new institution at Lima, where these unfortunates may be properly cared for.

Direct inquiry at the office of the Commission on these points is to the effect that as yet no official act or request has come from the Commission, but it is intimated that this or similar requests have come to them and also to the Governor direct.

We note the action of the Medical Society of Madison County in respect to this law, which association passed a resolution declaring against its severe restrictions. and asserting that the effect of its enforcement was to foster illegal traffic in these drugs..

The office of the Commission asserts that the drug trade is now practically free from blame in these matters, but it is also said that there is just as much morphine and cocaine being sold at present as ever, and this through underground channels. If this assertion be correct, this law instead of proving a blessing will have proven a curse. We do not believe there will be any argument against the statement that if these drugs are to be sold, their sale had much better be in the hands of qualified. pharmacists who have some responsibility, and reputation and some conscience rather than in the hands of elusive, unknown, irresponsible and vicious persons whose purpose is not only to supply those already addicted to the habit, but to create as many new ones as possible in order to increase and perpetuate their line of business.

The Governor is said to be anxious to shorten the coming special session of the Legislature as much as possible and to bring before it only measures of great importance. He is also reported to have said that it would be necessary for the legislature to do over again a large part of their work of last winter. It therefore seems probable, and in the light of its importance to the public welfare, we believe this law will be a part of the work to be done over.

BASIN

PRICE PROTECTION TO BE LEGALIZED.

ASING its opinion on the statement in President Wilson's message to Congress to the effect that the Sherman law must be modified; on recent statements of other officials at Washington, and the activities of certain newly formed organizations of national scope, retail business is anticipating the enactment of a price registration or maintenance act, supplementary to the Sherman law.

Whatever the form of the amendment, it is not unlikely that greater freedom will be permitted in the making of contracts as it is now very generally recognized that there is a vast difference between the "controlling" of prices after the manner of the trusts, and the regulating of prices by contract, the former absolutely restraining competition-the specific act which the Sherman law sought to prevent; the latter not only fostering competition between brands, but standardizing products so that the consumer knows what value to expect for his money.

If such price protection can be legally secured, it will have the effect of very largely curtailing cut rates, not only in drug store merchandise but in all lines, and may offer an additional boon to Pharmacy in the elimination of undesirable patents which may be expected to follow the attempt to sell at a dollar patents which have been selling for years at 69 cents.

On account of the vast number of patent medicines on the market and the opportunity which they offer to the cutter, the drug business has probably felt the evils of cut rates more than any one line of business, and while it has protested strongly within its own circles, its voice was too weak to be heard above the roar of aggregate business, but now that the fight has been taken up by all retail business as represented by the National Retail Merchants Association, the National Chamber of Commerce and the American Fair Trade League, great hopes are being entertained that the combined appeal of these several representative bodies will be heard and given attention at the regular session of Congress this winter.

These organizations are carrying their educational campaigns direct to the consuming public by exposing the deception practiced on his customer by the cutter who makes up his loss on standard goods by unfair prices on "nondescript" goods; and on the manufacturer whose trade mark or "stock in trade" is depreciated every time the article is advertised or sold at less than the retail price which he believes its merit warrants.

Allied with these organizations, whose officers are members of some of largest and most fair manufacturing concerns, are men of note who have made a thorough and careful study of the price question, who are fully able to judge of the merits of the claims of the retailers and will be on hand to help present their case to congress.

Whether this legislation is secured at the coming session or not, it is conceded in all quarters that it is bound to be an accomplishment of the not far distant future and will not only affect the business of merchants, but its operation will be felt in every home in the land.

INFOR

HAVE YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A DETECTIVE AGENCY? [NFORMATION has come to this office that circular letters are being received by the drug trade from a certain detective agency in Columbus, asking that they subscribe to and become members of a "Druggists Protective Association" to be operated by said detective agency, the burden of the letter being that they would protect druggists who may be prosecuted for infraction of the law, particularly the narcotic law, and secure for them evidence of any sort bearing upon the case.

We have taken pains to inquire at the headquarters of the Agricultural Commission regarding this letter. Commissioner Strode states that he has received a number of inquiries regarding the matter and that he has advised all inquirers to let this proposition entirely alone, as in his opinion this agency could do nothing to aid a druggist who wanted to be bad and the one who is good certainly has no occasion to use such service.

FOR

EVIDENCES OF REBELLION AGAINST HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE

LEGISLATION.

OR years past the expression has been very general to the effect that the drug trade seems to be entirely willing to submit, without any protest, to all sorts of legislation controlling, restricting and subjecting to special tax, their business.

In the light of recent events and with the murmur of numerous complaints in our ear, we think we have evidence that the old adage that "even the worm will turn" is about to be again proven.

We have in mind first, the manner in which the so-called Cocaine declaration has been received. This is a ruling promulgated by the Department at Washington. We have made quite close inquiry and from all that we can learn, the ruling has fallen flat. We have learned of but very few who have signed this declaration, a great many have paid no attention whatever other than to declare its impracticability of purpose. They decline to make such declaration at least until further authority is given or it be brought within the limits of ability to carry out.

Then again in the State of Ohio, the recent anti-narcotic law known as the Duffey Law, is the subject of vigorous criticism. The general tendency of the objection is that it is entirely too severe in its restrictions, and while in some measure entirely meeting its purpose, it has entailed unnecessary hardship. Elsewhere in this issue we comment further on this measure.

Also in Ohio, the enforcement of the recent Insecticide and Fungicide Law and the so-called Stock Food and Conditioner Law is being opposed. These are objected to on several grounds, chiefly because of their wide range and also because of the levying of a special tax on each and every item sold for the purpose indicated by their titles. The trade of the State is even threatening to take this matter to the courts if the Governor cannot be prevailed upon to secure their amendment at the special session of the Legislature.

All this does not indicate that the drug trade is chafing because its business has been restricted in certain nefarious articles, as indeed such is not the case, but is simply to be considered as a protest against the enactment of badly digested measures and the application of unreasonable restrictions and unfair taxation.

PERPETUAL REGISTRATION.

HE petition which has been circulated among the drug fraternity of Ohio asking an expression of opinion on changing the present laws to make registration perpetual has brought to its sponsors many answers favorable to the proposition.

Believing that some of these returns were hastily made and might be based on a general good feeling for and dependence in the judgment of the men originating the petition, the Midland addressed letters to some representative men throughout the state who would be likely to give careful consideration to any proposition before expressing themselves.

Before going any further we want to impress on our friends that we are not in any sense "knocking" this proposition or the men who are responsible for it. They assure us that the proposition is purely their own and not made at the suggestion of any state official, but we do want to caution them to make haste slowly and consider well before taking any steps. On the face of it this proposition looks good, but most good things have a few conditions tacked onto them.

The main point on which this petition is based seems to be that of ridding Pharmacy of the payment of the renewal fee, the claim being made that the Medical Board registers its applicants for life on the payment of one fee, and that if Pharmacy registration is put on the same basis, the State will have to appropriate for the maintenance of the Board.

The present registration fee of $10. would have to be raised to $25. or $50. and it is very likely that when it is the State will refuse to appropriate for the Board as they have done in the past, in fact is more likely to refuse now that the police powers have all been taken away from the Board and vested in the Agricultural Commission. Another point deserving of thought is the hardship this excessive fee would work on applicants for registration, many of whom undoubtedly find it hard to raise even the $10. fee now required-and to induce them to come into the profession, the older men now in business would have to pay it for them.

Under the present law the Pharmacy Board is a mere figure head and this perpetual registration act would undoubtedly completely destroy its existence. The Governor is even quoted as saying that he thought it had been done away with entirely by the enactment of the Commission Bill.

The keeping track of certificates should not be a difficult matter under either system of registration if properly systematized, but would probably be a more expensive one either to the Board or to the State than the triennial renewal.

We ask our readers to scan closely the letters, abstracts and papers on this subject found elsewhere in this issue and if, after reading them, they desire to revise their opinion, to write us at once.

BOOK REVIEWS.

Bulletin von het Koloniaal Museum te Haarlem No. 52. September, 1913. Inhoud: Verslag over het jaar 1912 met Bijlagen. Brochure, pp. 185, met afbeeldingen. Uitgave van het Museum, 1913. Prijs £1.50.

Bulletin No. 52 of the Colonial Museum at Haarlem, Holland, contains the annual report of the activities of the Museum for the year 1912. In a general way it does not differ from previous annual reports. Of the special features two may well be mentioned.

Among the illustrations those of the past and present directors of the Museum are noteworthy:

F. W. Van Eeden, the first director from 1864 to 1901.

Dr. M. Greshoff, director from 1901 to 1909.

Dr. J. Dekker, director since 1910.

Of special interest is the catalogue of bulletins 1 to 52 issued since 1892, of catalogues, of extra bulletins on useful Indian Plants with more than fifty plates, of illustrations in Indian plants for school purposes and of miscellaneous publications.

Teachers of pharmacognosy and custodians of museums will find the illustrations of Indian medicinal and other plants exceedingly valuable, whereas plant chemists regard such bulletins as No. 35 on the tannoids as wellnigh indispensable.

E. K.

« PreviousContinue »