Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-03-26

ord says these revtslons nave nerely |
skinned the surface Of the tariff abuses,
leaving most OF them stand in all their
fragrant inisuity. There is no part of
the whole system which is 80 impu-
dent In it's robbery as that which is
covered by the schedule Of chemicals,
drugs and medicines. The total value
Of imports Of chemicals, drugs and
medicines subject to duty amounted
last year to upward Of Sl3,000,0OO on
which duties amounting to nearly 81
100000 were paid by consumers.
While many of the articles in this
schedule are used in the arts and man
ufactures, very considerable proper
ton consists of heavily taxed medi-
cines.
I'm an outburst of indignation con-
gress, few years ago, repealed the
blood tax on quinine. When this duty
was repealed its beneficiaries loudly
asserted through the tariff organs that
the effect ofrepeal would be to increase
the cost Of quinine to consumers. They
predicted that the foreign manu-.
facturers, after obtaining control of the
American market, would combine to
raise the price Of the medicine-a
favorite prophecy, which is brought
into employment whenever 1t Is pro-
posed to repeal any of the oppressive
tariff duties. But the prediction has
been completely disgraced by the fact
that since the duty was repealed the
cost of quinipe has gone down from
| SO so an ounce to 81 10 an ounce, and
thus has this valuable medicine been
greatly cheapened to the fever-smitten
in all parts Of the country.
"But while repealing the duty on
quinine in response to popular demand,
other iniquities of the same character,
and of almost equal magnitude, are
left untouched by congress- and it is
still pretended that the tariff has been
made thing of ideal beauty and per-
fiction. A few examples taken from
the schedule of chemicals, drugs and
medicines will serve to illustrate the
beauty and excellence Of this System
Of tariff legislation.
"On the crude opium of commerce
Is levied duty OF 81 pound. But the
duty on prepared opium. for the pro-
lection OF American industry against
the pauper labor Of Europe, is SO q
pound. On morphine, medicine of
great value as an Alternative and an
enodyne, the protective duty is 81 an
ounce. THIS duty is not quite prohib-
tory, as some morphine is still inn
ported, but the duty enhances the tax
on all the morphine of domestic manu-
facture.
"Strychnine, an important medical
agent, is subject to probibitory duty
of 81 so pound, and callodion pays a
duty OF go cents a pound and % per
cent ad valorem.
"Chloroform, Of such inestimable
value as an anmsthetic, is taxed 80
cents pound for the protection OF
American chemists, aud the same tax
Is put on the oil Of Croton.
"Most of the acids used In medi.
cine, as we'll as in the arts aad manu-
features, are subject to duties ranging
from 20 to 100 per cent,
Either pays duty of 81 pound,
and GlsuOer salts duty 10 cents a
pound.
"All mercurisl preparations, incluI-
ing blue pills, are taxed 20 per cent.
ION tarnin, which has its uses in
medicine as well as In making leather
the duty is 81 a pound, or upward OF
200 per cent. on It's value.
"Santonine, a useful medicine fol
children, pays brutal duty of SIS q
pound.
Cream Of tartar Ia taxed cents a
pound, and refined camphor cents a
pound.
"Msgnesia (calcined) IL taxed 5000 a
ton, and flowers of sulphur $50 ton.
Acetate of lead is subject to duty
of 6 cents pound
"All the essential oils and slkali es
are taxed % per cent. ad valorsm.
THE duty on Rochelle salts liz s
cents a'pound, aud on castor beans Sc
cents bushel.
This ia far from eXhausting the list
of taxes on medicines. Considerably
above 100 different drugs and medi
cines are subject to duties, most Of
. them highly protective, To many il
will seem strange that the medical
profession has not risen in protest
against this bsrbarous legislation.
Every physician knows that the cost
. of nearly all the prescriptions which
: he writes is enhanced to the patient
/ by the tariff The restoration of many
poor patient to health is prevented