Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
THE DRUG BUSINESS.

OGn6EW1S6 WOulu.
THE DRUG BUSINESS.
How Medicines Become Popular and Then Go
Out Of FaShisA-Thc Use Of Quinine and
Opium.
Denver Tribune Republican.
With a view of learning something
about the drug business a reporter visited
one of the popular druggists of Denver
whom he found busily engaged in prepar-
ing prescription. After waiting sever
al moments the gentleman gave the fol-
lowing answers to the reporters inquir-
les:
''Now, there is compound that is COM
posed of just four ingredients. One of
these ingredients costs at wholesale ex-
actly 2 cents; the second 1 cent, the third
cents, and the fourth cents, making
in all a cost of 8 cents for that COM
pound"
"How much will you charge for that pre-
scription?"
"Seventyfive cents"
ga handsome proft-exactly 700 per
cent"
ooh, yes; but then you see the custom
er pays 81 cents of the IS for my expert
ence as an apothecary. Men in other
professions do the same, and can show
you fair comparison. For instance, a
physician will look at your tongue, feel
your pulse, and demand fee from So to
50. 1t is the same with a lawyer. You
visit his office, obtain his advice in sim
gle matter, and occupy his time about
fifteen minutes, and he will charge you
SO or SIS. Now, I think we druggists
have performed as much service as any
body, and all [ ask is the small pittance
of IS cents. We prefer the prescription
business to selling patent medicines, be-
cause the former is the more profitable of
the two branches of our trade"
rs the sale of patent medicines declin-
ing or increasingly"
L can reply to that question both in
the affirmative and negative. Patent
medicines are like the craze in garments
They become fashionable and grow out of
fashion. 1t is not always the best medi-
cines that have the largest sale. A great
deal depends upon how they are adver-
tised and brought before the public
few years ago man prepared a patent
pain annihiatOr. 1t was a sort of stuff
that deadened pain temporarily, but it
was not permanent cure. 1t was in
fact injurious, for it tended to produce
paralysis. The proprietor made a for
tune IN very short time advertising his
medicine thoroughly. His pain annihil-
ator was used in almost every family.
But it had its raise and fall like the Ro-
man empire, and now | don't think there
Is any of 1t manufactured, in fact know
1t Is not to be found in the market"
what drugs have the largest sale?"
well, [ may include in the list uuinine.
the various preparations of opium, Gallo
mel, arsenic, valerian, and-well. don't
think you wish me to go through the en-
tire catalogue of drugs"
Tell me something about quinine"
pills containing two grains of quinine
sell for $1.50 and 81 per bottle of one
hundred pills. The prevalence of ma
larla IN almost all sections of the country
during the past few years has caused an
immense consumption of the drug. In
Kansas and Arkansas, especially, quinine
Is freely used, and people consider it their
only salvation from chills and fever. 1t
has afforded spectators chance to make
great deal of money by forcing prices
up, and they have not been slow in taking
advantage of the opportunity"
us there scarcity of quinine in the
MARKET"
"Yes; but not so bad now as it has
been. 1t Is fortunate for the government
that the United States is not engaged in
"oI DIT til6 pI6SeIII GlluS. 1OE II Uncle Sdm
were compelled to purchase quinine for
an army of soldiers at the prevailing
high prices of the drug, his treasury
would show a weakness from the start.
Inc quantity of quinine that was con-
sumed by the troops during the rebellion
was simply enormous. Men who had been
accustomed to live in the north, being sud
denly transferred to the malariaI districts
OF the south, were exposed to chills and
teVers. Had 1t not been for the excellent
antidote found in quinine, half the army.
no doubt would have been sent to the hos
pitfalls. | think gunpowder and ouinine
did a great deal toward bringing the war
to a successful termination. Another
very successful feature in the DRUG bust
ness is opium"
by whom is opium mainly bought?"
''By people of all classes. WHY, Won
would be surprised if [ would show YOU
list of my customers who are in the habit
of purchasing this drug. The drug is
used as freely as tobacco by certain
class, aside from those who use it in phys
clans prescriptions. These slaves of the
opium habit comprise lawyers, preachers,
artists, merchants, and all kinds of me-
chanlcs, tradesmen and laborers. Women