The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-19
A GREAT LABORATORY.
Pills by the Million and Liquids to Float a
Ship-Visit by the Students of Purdue.

The senior and junior classes of the Purdue
University School of Pharmacy, upon invita-
ton of Eli Lilly q Co., pharmaceutical chem
lists, were in the city yesterday for the purpose
OF looking through the manufacturing establish
ment Of that enterprising and successful firm
They were dined at the Bates House and visited
the State house, Geological Museum. and other
places of interest. and in the afternoon went to
the mandatory of Lilly & Co., on East Nc.
Carly street They were accompanied by Presi
dent Smart, Professor Warder and Dr. Wether-
ell. of the university, aud the young men,
bright business-like. wide-awake students, saw
much to interest them. They were specially in
terested in the new and improved machinery for
the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations
much Of which has been invented by the mem
bers of the firm.
Ten years ago, in the alley called by courtesy
Pearl street, Colonel Lilly, in a room 20 by 40
now great proportions, the floors of which cover
over thirty thousand square feet. A Journal
reporter who dropped in upon che visiting
students at the laboratory made few memo
randa. On the shelves of the stock room are
10 600 pounds of fluid extracts and elixirs In
the packing and shipping department. he made
the discovery that they not only sell to over
three hundred wholesale drug houses in the
United States, but their products go to foreign
lands. He saw there ready for shipment sixty
burn Viaduct, London, E. c., England" and in
voices for j. j. Mack e Co. and Reddington &
Co., San Francisco, CAL; Schnell, Hiteshu g.
Woodland. Portland. Ore; Evans Sons & Mason,
Montreal, Canada, besides invoices for New
York, Providence. Montgomery, Ala, Rich
mond, Va San Antonio, Tex, and other points
Last year the establishment turned out 49,
OOO. 600 sugar coated and gelatine-coated pills,
this amount being about equally divided between
the two the gelatine coated pills being in rapid
Embarrassing demand Over 100, 600 pounds Of
fluid extracts and 40, 900 pounds of elixirs were
made. Over lie. 900 pounds of crude materials
were used, which does not include the chemical
products which 60 into pills, elixirs, etc. Lilly
81 Go. carry il stock nearly six millions of pills
OF all kinds. They make over one thousand
different preparations. They will this year turn
out about 20, 600 pounds of medicinal lozenges
and tablets, which is entirely new manufacture
here.
The neatness and cleanliness of the manufact-
ory in every part and department., from the
engine-rooms to the Office from the basement to
the remOtest corner of the top floor are specially
noticeable. The department. Of the analytic
chemist is also we'll worth praise. careful
chemicals received into the establishment, and
close analysis made of every product before it is
put upon the market.
Lilly & Co. have a medical publication which
is mailed regularly to 5000 physicians in the
United States and Canada and to %, 600 drug
gists. They also mail so. 600 copies to physicians
and chemists of Great Britain and the British
colonies-in short, to every English speaking
spot on earth Of this they published last year
$780, 600 copies, and paid in postage to the India
napolis postofice over So, 600.
The house. in it's quiet way is doing business
OF $780, 00 year. It is an Incorporated COM
pany, with capital stock of 1920. 600, with Eli
Lilly, president; James E. Lilly, vice-president;
Evan F. Lilly, secretary, and Josiah K. Lilly,
superintendent. They have sixty.two persons in
employ. A few days ago the wages Of employees
were increased equal to 10 per cent on the entire
payroll. Every employe has weeks holiday each
year. with his wages for that week paid him in ad-
vance, besides having other privileged occasions.
1t is worthy of remark that Lilly & Co. believe
in Indianapolis and Indianapolis men and manu-
features The forty horse power engine that
makes their wheels 60 round to grind their
drugs. sugarcoat their pills, and to do other
pharmaceutic service. is from the Atlas works.
and their water is supplied by one of Dean
Brothers famous pumps.
Lilly d Co. have a branch house at Kansas
City. No., which attends to all trade west of the
Mississippi river, except Pacific coast points
The house there is in charge of Mr. James E.
Lilly. Lilly 81 Co. have eleven travelling men,
who cover the entire United States.