New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-18
THE PRICE OF QUININE.

A curions illustration of the damaging ehectS
of retail monopolieS upon the public welfare Is
oiven in a communication to 1.-The London
Economist' of June q on the subject OF quinine.
II illustrates also a well-known but singular
principle that the inertia OF retail pnces olteh
ressts change for long time, notwithstanding
remarkable reductions in wholesale prices OIL inc
same articles An interesting account IS gwen
of the rapid development OF production OF One
cinchona tree in India, which was introduced
into that country by the Government IN looo'
Tho plants were brought from South America
where the sole source of supply for the whole
world had previously been found, and the first
cron Of bark was obtained in India no longer
400 than 1872. But the cultivation spread
RAPIDLY. so that by 1882 the number OF cnchona
trees in Ceylon alone was estimated at w.
0OO, 900, according to the communication ABOVE
mentioned. Of late years the Importation OF
barl, from the East into Great Britain has
averaged about 100000 pounds and 1t IS
estimated that the exports forthe twelve months
ending July l have been not far from 1000
200 mounds. The exports from South America
are now insignificant, and it is supposed that
obout 16. 500. 600 pounds of bark represent an
ontire wears production for the use of the world
or about the equivalent Of 100000 ounces
of Quinine.
When the Government OF India undertook
the development of this production its especial
intention was to provide an abundant and cheap
sunplv for the use of hospitals and troops in that
country, where malarial fevers arc exceedingly
prevalent But the production Increased 50
vastly, on account of the large profit for time
derived. that the supply seems to have exceeded
the entire demand Of the civilized world. This
appears to have been due to the fact that the
demand for consumption has not been enlarged
rs it naturally would have been, supplies hay
ing 80 largely increased, by corresponding re-
| ducton in retail prices. The bark has fallen
in wholesale price so that the same quality which
was sold at I shillings per pound at London
can now be bought for IL pence per pound,
and the sulphate OF quinine which was sold in
! 1880 for II shiings per ounce, can now be
bought from the most noted manufacturer for
1 shilling pence per ounce while the German
product is quoted at 10 pence TO II pence per
ounce.
Notwithstanding this surprising change in the
wholesale price, it is stated in The London
Economist that the retailers of the drug have
generally declined to follow the wholesale mar
ket, and have practically succeeded, so far rs
the great mass OF public is concerned, in main
tanning retail prices at an altogether artificial
and TO many a prohibitory level" IT is further
stated that the retail price in various parts Of
London varies from 6 shillingS to shillings
Der ounce, and in country districts 4" it is often
far more expensive, and to a great extent be-
yond the reach of the poor" The maintenance
of such prices seems the more strange in view
of the fact stated that " a number of the CO.
operative stores retail quinine at present at .
shillings per ounce, even then making gross
profit of over 40 per cent on the wholesale
price"
As a result of this singular maintenance OF
artificial prices, it appears that the worlds con-
sumption has increased comparatively little. 1t
is estimated that the aggregate consumption
under normal circumstances is only 1000, 600
ounces OF quinine per annum and while the
trade in bark with South America has been
practically destroyed, as it is no longer profit
able 10 export the bark from that country, the
decline in wholesale prices has been such as Ia
cause an extraordinary decrease in the produc-
ton even in India. Thus it is said that the
number of cinchona trees has decreased by
more than three-quarteIs in Ceylon during the
last eight wears. There is threatened so gen
eral an abandonment of the cultivation that
this most necessary drug, Of almost universal
use. may again become as costly within a