The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-12

peal OF the tax on sulphate OF quinine, its
salts iodine. resublimed and morphine
and its salts, as the house records OF thai
ling Peruvian or cinchona bark and
quinine for thirty-fve years, I
know something OF its history.
Messrs. Powers d Weightman commenced
the manufacture oil chemical products in
Philadelphia at a very early day. They
discovered q process for obtaining quininG
from barks, which at once placed them in
advance OF all other chemists in America,
and within a few years were among tho
greatest manufacturers OF Quinine in the
world. The early discovery OF the medi-
cal properties of this salt and its superior
ity over the crude powdered bark, at once
convinced them OF the necessity Of en-
larging their facilities for It's manufacture.
they placed agents in South America to
buy up the bark and ship il 10 them.
This gave them a great advantage, and by
judicious advertising they placed their
products upon the market in advance OF
all others. There was no cheap or pau
per" labor here or in Europe that could
compete with or affect them in this great
trade. The manufacture oi quinine was
done only 10y the science OF chemistry,
and practical, well-iniOTmed chemists,
whose skill commanded the highest wages
and hence shielded them from poverty.
To this day there are no foreign paupers
engaged in making this great medicine.
The bark, from which Quinine is made,
was put on the free list, which gave an
impetus 10 It's manufacture by other
chemists in this country, but Powers
d Weightman, as well as others.
derived a benefit from free barks and
IL. Il.
all cOmes. Free raw material
and a high tariff on the products
of the barks shut out foreign competition,
whilst the superior facilities possessed by
Powers q Weghtnan for the production
of quinine enabled them to underseu
home competition and hold the trade oi
the United States The price OF quininS
was on descending scale, and before tho
tariff was removed in 1879 it had fallen
from 81 to 81 per ounce in ten years, this
too before an ounce OF foreign quinine
had been sold in this country. The
market for Quinine become unsteady ow-
ing to the increased demand for il, as
well as q slight influence exerted by small
manufacturers. AS the summer advanced
malarial diseases increased and physicians
began to prefer quiniue to the crude bark
in their practice. Powers & Weightman
also took advantage OF the autumnal de-'
mand for quinine and entered in to a COLI
tract with the wholesale druggists
throughout the United States to
furnish them with ouinine 40
a fixed price for the en-
tire year, pro vided they made their pur'
chases in Re bruary and March, which
they did, and after that quinine advanced
in price with the season, to suit the ca
price or cupid ity OF the lordly manufact-
urer. lndianians must remember tbs
sliding scale in the pr ice of that drug from
1865 to 1880. The sales OF sulphate Of
quinine during 1878 and 1879 GuSt before
the removal OF the tariff in twenty states
OF the Union, amounted TO l23A 00o
ounces in each year, at a price not less
than $3.50 per ounce. All this, or nearly
ali this, vast sum Of money went into the
pockets OF MesSrs. Powers d Weightman,
who firmly held the market of twenty
states against all competitors. This is q
fair sample OF a protected industry. The
tariff on quinine and its salts for there
are several) placed the company in an
impregnable position in the market, and
its own prices prevailed. The more sick
ness there was the more suffering the peo-
pie endured, and the more money flowed
into the Golfers OF Powers * Wcightman.
Thus upon tbs misfortunes of the people
the manufacturer oil Quin inc, under tbs
broad aegis OF the Outspread wings OF the
gOvernment-two men among millions
built up colossal fortunes. But as soon as
the tariff was removed. home and foreign
competition reduced the price and the
manufacture OF quinine Is carried on in
this country more extensively than before.
The people are enabled to buy three
ounces OF quinine with the money they
formerly paid for one ounce. With this
plain view OF the effects OF high protec-
ton, il seems that no rational, unprejudiced
mind could support it.
JAMES VI. CONFER, II. D.
Plymouth, Ind, Sept 3.