, 1874-07-12
TEE RETAILERS.


deutly passed away. Competition has become sc
great in this city, and SUCCESS is based go largely
upon reputation, that the bulk OF tho trade is
finding its way into the hands of few who have
skill as chemists and are above reproach ~
honorable dealers. Owing to the fact generally
alluded to; that better class OF drugs arc in
demand, the profit on them has been materially
lesscned. and tho establishments have now to be
conducted in \ better way. In tile first place
the
| FURNITURE MUST EE ELEaAST.
Then shillful compounders nust lie procured rs
| assistants. Those drugs that lose their power
with age must also be frequently thrown away
the purchase Of stocks That 20 out Of fashion and
! count in the cost, but net IN the sale,
aud aside from all tAia tho retail
druggist is The slave of tho public. always ready
Sundays and holidays included. IIo is frc-
q'.cntlv called up iu the night to mix prcscrip-
tlon for which be gotta Is cents or so
conts, while the doctor who sends it gets -
for ll:s visit to the patient. Not to 20 into tho
estimate of the care and responsibility that ara
tho drusSlsts' portion,
THE FR1GHrFUL DREAMS
lo sometimes has OF having mistaken arsenic
for SODA, or strychnine for EPSON salts. or
in the hurry OF the moment given bottle of
AoA>A~A
for hair-dye. it is plain enough that his bed is
not ono Of roses unaccomPaniol by thorns. Far
different for on the contrary he very likely
sleeps in g. dark back room: in an
of'Spn''' on eas1oy 81 e. sulhura wih hs aed Sdd
a corkscrow in the small Of his back, one hand
in keg OF axle-gl ease, and his list gently melt
ing away in u tub Of concentrated lye. But
aside from these disconforts
HIS PROFITS
nrn not nearly 70 great "a i9 rennrafv gr1nvoea5
nor as much as they used to DO. l.anufa:turacs
get reputation for Specific things, and almost
every branch OF tho trade is thus taken up. 4
customer wants such a mans mixture or com
pound, just as Lo asks for n certain brand Of
tlodr and ho will have no other; consequently
the drug trade within . few years has passed
from the hands OF the retailers. who used to mix
all doses asked for, into the llands Of those WHO
have made study Of special branch and have
secured the reputation Of being standard y in
that particular thing. Tho opportunity for the
druggist to adu1tcrate, or charge IN cxorbitaut
prise, is thus in great measure cut OF.
THERE ARE SOME FEW THINGS.
however, that are still greatly mixed, or at least
bear that construction on their face. The in
stance alluded to OF cream OF tartar being sold
at % cents pound, when the wholesale price,
list is ~ cents, il ono OF these Another thing is
PARIS GREEN.
Since the potato-bug became one of the pests Of
the farmer, erent demand has sprung up for
this article. which, being spriukled the plant 1s
eaten " tho artless creature without inyestiya-
tion. 1t being poison, it kills them. 4 pure
article Of this drug is worth IS cents pound,
but so remarkable il the generosity Of the rc1ail-
ers that it is commonly sold at Is cents.
This is n1ada profitable by substituting the
snlphate Of barytes, which costs only cents
pound, or common powdered arsenic, which costs |
conts, thus leaving profit of about 20 cents |
pound. The potato-bug not being an adept in
drugs does not recognize that counterfeit arti-
clo is imposed upon it, but the result is not a.
EGf ia ia n fnrfn .s,,1
aad mustard are also adulteratcd, but eau ba
bought in the berry and ground at home. There |
is no need to bo cheated in these things. !
ESSENTIAL OILS
are very much adultcratel. the retailers say br
the jobbors, and vice versa. These are yory |
high in price, and admit the mixture OF delete
rious compounds with little chance OF detection.
The oil Of bitter almonds is sold at wholesale at
ounce, cinnamon $685. rose si.5o. and
others in proportion. The different oils
are ndultcrated with alcohol. turpentine,
castor oil, cotton-soed oil, and other baser COM
ever, but are used to give body to other prepa-
ratlons. Cologne is made Of all qualities, and
sold at any prlco. It ia simply doolorzed aIco-
hol, aod the prico represents the quality Of tbs
oil which gives it its perfume
POWDERED op1CH
is another article which il compounded with
other substances, and sold for the pure quill. 4
puro article from abroad is almost unknown,
alI0 uosL Vi Liz mSk-cta9B NrtE1hta. Deluy aware |
Of This, drug the gum themselves and pulyer-
lzo it.
N1SEEAIrTATERs |
are generally not "!!at they pretend to be, though
tue tue notion prevails to somo extent thai
sinGen, Vichy, and other foreign waters
are :, manufactured in the basement Of tho
retail stores. The salts aro imported from En-
gland from tltms that have worldwide roputa-
ion for distilling them. When it is desired to
make up stoca-and this is done every day by
he larger retail store8-tle analysis OF the tiif-
Fetent salts in the os1giual spring is made and
lie druggist mixes them as near this formula as
10 can. He then .d,ls water. and the Kis.ingcn
u llchy Ii ready for those who have tho courage
This is the only country that enjoys the dis
:Ect'on OF drinking soda-watcr, or, in other
'ords, lce-Tater into which is forced from gen
'rat'rs. carbonic acid gas. Thero vas an effort
made some time ago By IN ente:prlaius Yankee to
nuoduce it to the Parisiars, but the Frenchnen
.isiIked its sharp taste and the gaseous results,
I'D II did not ind much favor. In fact, there |
eem to be no people WHO are willin. to under
AXE the experiments with tho stomachs that til q
I1x IT., %hotr, | .