Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-06
ALMnH0NsR DRnGs.
Furnished SO Cheap That They Are
Open 30 Criticism.


Open 20 Crilicism.
The figures upon many Of the items in
the recently accepted contract OF II. X.
Watson for furnishing drugs to the aims
house has been the cause OF wide
comment and animadversion from some
of the prominent drugeists of the city. 1t
is stated thst many of the items have
been accepted far below Wholesale cost.
Some Of the druggists however explain
the successful bidders ability TO take the
contract through the fact that tho FORMAL
printed Hat which bidders are supplied
with by the trusteeA TO quote their bids
upon is an cut. of-date list in regard to
the standard drugs in oommop use, that
the larger number on that list are seldom
called for, therefore even If tho success
full bidder made figures much less than
he has done he would relatively be per.
fectly safe for ths extremely iow-fglred
items would never be called for. Hs
would be made safe also because the
extras, not mentioned in the trilstaes' list
would be paid for as charged, there being
no contract price for thsm.
Some OF tho items criticised by the
druggists of the city are given below: tr.
Opium, S3 por gallon; 1t is stated it
would cost 81 so a gallon to make 1t up
to phermacopoeal standard and that a.
50, the accepted bid, 1t cannot be full
strength. Sweet spirits Of nitro, 80 Is /;
it costs 40 cents psr pint wholesale,
eauallin9 1920 per gallon instead OF
$2.25. Lime water, five cents; can't
make distilled water, which is the only
ingredient of lime water outside OF the
lime itself OF Ave oents gallon. Essence
Of peppermint, SO cents; 1t could not bs
properly made at the accepted bid per
pint let alone per gallon. The bid of
syrup ipecac, 80 cents per quart, is criti.
oised o. an impossible figure. Elixir lic.
orice aromatic, so cents per quart, would
cost 81 quart according to good REQ
ognized formula. Fluid extract ergos,
81. 10 per pint, most important prspa
ration, which would cost SLIPS
per pint. OhlofofoEm, AZ centg, can't
buy 1t to-day at that figure, the drugsist
himself must pay At least 80 cents. ful.
phuric ether (squib9l, $l--vonid have TO
invest in 300 worth or these poeis in
order to sell ~ this prioa aud then with
ont cent Of profit. Zinc ointment, rs
cents--ths wholesale price list lie 50 aonts.
Mercurlal ointinsnt, 40 osntE-Powers g.
Weightmsu'a wholesale price list is SO
cents. Rochelle aaits, 30 cents--can't
be bought in 50.pound lots less than az
cent?. Cream tartar, rs cents--whole.
sale price, "a cent?; In barrels, 80 cents.
iodlforn, 20 oenss--wholasal prioo, rs
cents. Sulphate morphtA, IS osnts-
wholesale price, IL cents. Wyeth's COM
pressed qlinine pills, . gs., So cents per
lOO'-this Is the actual cost.
1t is complained thSt the above ao-
oepted figures place tho druggist, OF the
city In very bad light before the Will
mington public, ~ n fair inference from
the figures ID tina. they Che druggists)
musi be overohsrsing their customers ia
snch iiem1. The druggists assert that
they furnish these articles TO tine public
at correct price notwithstanding the
strangs contrast OF figures sel forth by
the accepted bid for alE4houss drugs.
In the printed forms furnished by the
trustees to bidders there is statement
that the preparations of tue successful
bidder are open to the medical board fog
examination az 90 purity ard standard.
The last annual rapport Of tha trustees
shows that, dsgpiss these low figures, the
snm OF 81, 959,37 was expended for
drugs, all Of whioh except 1888 10 worth
were supplied by Mr.. Watson. Tdis
aggregate does net inolude an expeudi-
iurs for whisky, which finds soune noe in
a medicinal way ia the slmshouae, sS402 20
having been paid for this item.