The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-14
HOSPITAL DRUGS.
Expert Williams Points Out Ir.
Irregularities.
Changes Made in Bids After Presentation
Transaction In Which Dr..
Healy Figures.

Acting under instructions of the Supervisors
Finance Committee, Expert Cyril Williams re-
Gently made an investigation of the drug ae-
counts OF The County Hospital, regarding which
Assistant Apohecary Days recently made some
serious charges, involving Apothecary Wagner
and clerk Of whole sale drug house.
The report OF the committee supplements these
charges with one nferentially against Supern
tendent Healy upon the result OF Williams ex-
animation, In these words:
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
with reference to the drug account OF the City
committee has been called, they further report that
the expert is of the opinion that the evidence is In
ordered.
1t appears that some explanation may be made by
hospital, to the Board OF Health which may elicit
new departure as to the manner of ordering the
1889 bids were received for drugs required during
the month of January, 1890, from Langley &
sequentIy, on December 81, 1889, a bid was
ceived on a ietter-head OF Langley a. Mchaels Com
DIR. J. n. Heaiy-DEAR SIR: In going over our es-
innate for drug supplies We find error, and here
with name S342 as the figures. We will I'LL requisi
"LASelEr & MIcH.Ers Co,
The contract or order was given to the Langley &
Michaels Company on this bid, Notwithstanding the
Heath and the lowest bidder at that time being
Mack IL Co. Why this was so does not appear very
clear
The difference price in the purchase OF drugs
outside that were supplied on bids from the same
firms warrants the assumption that the acquisitions
ought 10 comprise sufficient quantity for For
example, sulphate of qunine supplied by bid at 40
Citrate OF caffeine supplied by bid at 10 cents per
ounce costs 81 rs on outside orders and so on as
CEASED MAKING ENTRIES.
The schedule is voluminous document by ex-
pert Williams. and gives In detail the methods
pursued In procuring drugs. After abiding TO
the yeritic4tiOn Of WEIGHTS and uu2utitins of
drugs received, Mr.. Williams continues:
When the last apofhecary, Mr.. Wagner, assumed
1888, he took stock OF everything hand and
menced keeping stockbooS in very thorough man
ner. After September. however. he ceased making
entries, and the book has not since been posted
In supplemental report dated May 18th, Mr..
Williams says:
inclose some tables, which think might be OF
some use. For example, codeia, worth 81 per ounce
lss9-Jnly August and September got ounces,
used average2
lsso-March April and May, got Is ounces.
There are IS onnees on hand. Mr.. Days declares
they used 10 to IL ounces monthly. Tue purchases
are only Ara ounces monthly. l don't understand
Mr.. Williams also says that bills bought out
side the acquisitions are loo high, and gives as
examples the following instances:
OUTSIDE BILLS TOO HIGH.
On October IL, 1889, five ounces OF sulphaIe
OF quinine were bought Fl ON Mack g. Co. at 70
cents an ounce, the requtsition price being 40
cents. Al tile same time two ounces of citrate
of caffeine were purchased at 81 10, the requisi-
llOn average DelDS ~ cents. On July 3Otn oil
the same year thu zee pounds OF chloroiorm were
obtained at Langley & Michaels Company at
| 81 10 pound, which, under bids, could be
had for 90 cents a pound. Cases are also cited
where lint was purchased at an advance of 90
| per cent.
In AN Interview with a CALL reporter Mr..
| Williams said that the acquisitions and invoices
| tailed, and the only chance for fraud by
substitution, which It would be difficult TO ascer-
| tain without great deal OF labor. He also
stated that the original bid OF Langley g. MI
cbaelS Company could not be found, although
| supposed to be filed at the County Hospital.