The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-01-08
au1EINE AND OPIUM rRApH.
Bearp1se I'm the Price OF Qutntns-Uss
Of the Indian Hark-The I'm
portatfon Of Opium.


pOrtation Of Opium.
Though il is said, and not without sop1s-
reason, that the Englishman holds his
grip on India by taking his daily dose Of
Quinine rather than by drawing his sword,
II Is nevertheless true that the oonsump-
ton of this febrifuge in the United States
Is exceedingly large and always increasing.
The exceedingly msgnanimous action q
our Legislators, which placed quinine on the
free list, has caused, in the course Of trade,
the price OF the A6alOid 70 be closely
watched
For fiscal year ending June, 50, lss4, tbs
total import Of dutiable drugs and chemi-
Gals were worth els, $50 700, against t1o,-
of6,975 in 1858, while the import
offree drugs and chemicals was eSs, SOz,-
30, gain OF 81 .6e6, 94b over ths values
OF the year before. This increase Is win
out doubt due to the enlarge ment Of the
free list, and tends 20 show that the drug
business, in its relation 70 the whole bust
ness of the country, has suffered less than
other trades
The most important article in the whole
list is quinine, and there was an increase
In the importation Of Quinine salts, with q
decrease OF cinchOna bark for manufsctur-
ing purposes. In 1884, ], ,265, ,TS2 ounces
of quinine salts were imported, against l.
O55764 ounces in 1883, and Tq4, Se5
ounces in 1Ss2- The decrease In
importation Of bark has been
quite marked. In 1884, ASS. 5OF
pounds Of cinchons bark were imported
in 1883 3,689,3l5 pounds, and in 1857 s.
Ole, 547 pounds. From the pounds OF
bark alone, however, no very exact Stats
tics can be obtained OF the yield Of qui-
nine, because Of the varying quality Of
the natural alkaloid. OF late years the
bulk of cultivated bark. though smaller,
might present an amount Of quinine salts
1a-
Of the crude material were made in for
mer years. To London, the great mart Of
the bark, East India sent more bales in
1884 than in prior years, while from Gu
pres, Columbia and New Grenada ship
ments have diminished This arises from
the fact that the cultivated bark grown
in India, containing a larger proportion Of
the natural alkaloid, Is easier and more
profitable to work than the South Amer
lean. While south American bark dete-
Tiorates, Indian barks are improving
Some attention has been paid Of late 10
growing bark in Bolivia with the same
care TO the culture of the tree as in the
East, but 1t is doubtful whether the south
American product can be produced cheap
enough To compete with the Indian on ac-
count of the dear and uncertain labor In
Bolivia and the heavy cost Of freight
Generally the belief has been entertained
that in the East Indies plantations Of
cinChona were very profitable but It may
be found from the report that the out
turns have disappointed the growers
Whether bark II In excess Of demand no
opportunity OF Judging is afforded 1t is
believed that Java viii furnish in the
future n much larger proportion Of bark
than in the past II Is unfortunate that
up TO this time larger direct shipments
have not been made Of Eastern CinChona
bark 20 this country. The present con-
dition OF the business Is that our manu-
faCtuTers Of Quinine must purchase the
bark in London, and expenses are in
creased.
Looking at the manufactured article
quiniue, in 1854 the price opened At s1.7B
Per ounce, this price being due 20 a com
bination Of manufacturers In September
II was 81, and iH December g5 cents The
imports Of 1884 were l,265, 1872 ounces, the
decrease being 200, OOU ounces more than IN
1883, and almost 1,UOO. 600 more than IN
1873 Reasons for the lowering of price
of quiuine seem 10 have been, IN paT1,
competition Of foreign manufacturers,
but the more important factor, Il is sup
possible Is the large increase of good bark
From an average Of 1866 gold for an
ounce Of quinine in 1850, the price IN 1854
was sl.27. To-day quiniue i quoted ~
from SIS to e5 cents per ounce, accordin z
TO whether sold in bulk OF put MP.
or opium as q source Of morphine
the importation Of the crude drug. used
for medicinal puTpOses-the quantity Va
ries year by year but little. Last year
s64 T46 pounds were imported; in 1855
800, 012. To prevent the use of Opiu m for
smoking the custom rate was more ased
from S6 70 SO per pound. The advance
Of -, which took place in July, ss9-
seems to have checked that terrible vice
of opium smoking, though il is too early
as yet 20 assume any gains in morals Rs
the result Of recent legislation The value
of opium imported as a medicine in 1854
was S661, OLA, and FOR smoking purposes
sIO,124 In lsS2 the value Of opium
for smoking was 2,6S4, $50, this large
quantity having been hurried in in the
early months OF the year 50 rs not 20 sub
| ject IL 70 the increased duty of e. The
average value OF opium used I'm the United
Z States by the Chinese or Others in their
+ death-dealing pipes, seems 20 be al irst
. cost $500, 600 a year. When used 70
cater To human vice 81, 500, 600 would be
figure within the limit.