Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-08
CHEAPER QUININE.
The Combination TO Maintain High
Prices Broken.
Philadelphia Druggists Deny That Any
Combination Existed.
New York Times.I

The combination of the quinine
manufacturers of the world is broken
and prices for the drug have reached u
lower level. There are seventeen man
ufactories worthy of notice In the
world. Six are in Germany, two in
Italy, three in France, two in En-
gland, and four in the United
states. The factories in this country
belong to Mckesson & Robbins of this
city, and Powers " Weightman,
Rosengarten L. Sons and Kesby IL Mis-
sar of Philadelphia. The quantity of
quinine annually manufactured in the
entire world is said to be, in round
numbers, 4,250, 600 ounces. 1t Ia esti-
mated that 100000 ounces are con.
sumed in this country, of whicl about
one.half is manufactured here.
Quinine of American manufacture is
preferred in the United States, and
none is exported, except perhaps to
neighboring countries. The bulk of
the quinine comes from Continental
Europe, which in consequence con
trolls the trade, and, as IA rule, is ex-
pected to establish prices through
out the world. The tsnden-
cy Is to overprOduction, and the ,cln.
tlnental manufacturers have ALWAYS
sought to form combinations to sus.
tam prices. The largest quinine man
ufactory in the world is that of Alex
ander Boehringer, at Milan, Italy.
The continental manufacturers last
summer formed IA combination to fix n
price which should be observed both
IN Europe and this country. They
bound themselves by forfeits to sustain
the established prices. Howard &
sons and Whiffen & Co., the English
manufactures, entered into the ar
rangement. Mr.. Boehringer came To
tnis country to enlist the co-operation
OF American manufacturers. i'm which
lie was successful. The agreement was
put INTO operation on July last.
Mr.. Daniel G. Robbins, of McKesso
q Robbins, said last night that the
american and English manufacturers
were not bound 10y iorfeits to observe
tne arrangement. The maintenance
oi tne combination was limited to no
specified time. The sales had been
rainier limited. Howard & Sons with !
In Ten days had made a reduction in
.me price oftwenty-fve cents an ounce
ihere was nothing to hold them to
.he combination price, and they |
thought they might us well be on the !
outside us the inside, Mr.. Robbins
supposed. The production had acru. |
Iulated on their hands, and they
paced IL on the market at the reduced
price III order to get rid of it. There
,, no corner in quinine. The com.
nina'ioh was simply formed to
Keep up prices. The business was
: by very few concerns, and
;ne'e iiau Always been an understand
lug among them. When the combi-
s was formed the prices were
,,oh Si,oV 10 $l.6O an ounce. There
quinine in bulk and in yials nh
OH su made the price in vials
Europe it was $l.72, figured in tha
currency of the United states. Tho
oa .a'ce Oh ~ cents was the only one s
would be met on the contina1t
Shat would be done In the future H.
Nobbins was unable to say. In Amar
"a tne general price of ST. so in viais ,
tnd sl;oO in bulk had been adontaI /,
ihce the breaking of the combination !
me cnange In the trade prices made !
10 diiierenee IN the retail prices The ,
lock IN the American market Wa +,
man ana the consumption here Wa
oJut lhe same as usual. These, Mr. h
'oo1ins sid, were the plain facts Of :,
nc situation. '"''' VI Y
a large importer of quinine said that q
fevious to the formation of the com. q
' ,. over.production prevailed. !,
mon created u tendency to reduce +,
~ price. He had supposed the com NJ
Ssm was 70 limit the manufactures /,
,r "sm as 70 NIX prices, but as the ar n
now 'p. was secret, he did not i,
inc had hnother dealer said that qni- a,
Ice at 4, o os SOD here to his knows Sc
u, u. e =" 20, which was lower than il T.,
oxen i, oeen before. The price was be
,ere w ~ n a,N" York last Tuesday, M
'e'e WAS also an over-production Of tn