Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22
RIGHEsT-PRICED DRUGS.
Almost PrOhibitive Cost of Rarely
Used ingredients in Medicine.

From the New York Sun.
The question was asked a few days ago
as to what is the cOstliest drug sold by
New York druggists. If the reader should
have the curiosity to ask his friends or
business acquaintance at drug stores he
would be likely TO inset with various an
swers. A common reply received by Sun
reporter was the Hibernicism. There isn't
any" This was ampIified in this way:
The expensive drugs are not used; if
they were used they wouldn't be expen-
sive. As soon as a thing comes into gem
eral use a way to cheaper 1t or to cheaper
its production is found. While it remains
very expensive it might as well not be on
the price lists, for other materials supply
the need usually which it might fill. Once
In a while a drug somewhat high in price
Is prescribed in medicine by a physician
who hes tuical patient with money, but
that doesn't often happen Again. some
rare drug or chemical which is produced al
great labor or care is wanted in some DEL
icate analysis or chemical experiment, and
In such circumstances only. OF course, be-
Ing seldom used and difficult of production,
lis price is high. But. generally speaking,
high-priCei drugs are not used in drug
Stores
High-priced. however, is relative term
In drugs as in NEST commodities although
relative il different sense than when ap
piled. for example, to clothing. since the
proportion of service to cost does not enter
into the calculation In the first place. in
considering the question. q definition of the
word drug must be understood. To many
persons q drug means a medicine for IN
ternal or external use. In this sense. more
especially, there are comparatively few ex-
penSiHe drugs. if a little matter of $50 more
or less. an ounce for drugs commonly han
died by the grain be counted as unimpor-
tant and most of these few, the druggists
aver. are little Issd. II the definition of
the word drug given first by the dictionary
be accepted the field widens at once: Any
vegetable. animal mineral substance
used in the composition Of or preparation
Of medicines; hence. also. any ingredient
used il chemical preparations employed in
the arts
In the wide range of meaning which the
word has in common use it is easy to see
how an inquirer might meet with various
answers to the question. What is the most
expensive drug? definite answer it
might not be prudent to give. The re-
porter's search brought him to germanium
listed In the index to the preparations of
one of the largest firms of manufacturing
druggists in the city at 81 for one and a
nan grains. or the pretty figure of s. 30 an
ounce The uses Of germanium the index
did not give and inquiries of several drug
gists failed to reveal them. as did consulta-
ton OF encyclopedias in English German
and French But thers was no question
about the price, or of the record of the ar
ticle among the preparations of the drug
giStS- Gernanium is q metal of grayish
white iuster and very brittle. discovered in
(Which contains silver. sulphur and ger
manium). sulphide of germanium and sill
Yer, found at Frefberg, SaxOny 1t melts
at 800 degrees C., does not tarnish in air
at ordinary temperature and dissoives in
aqua regia.
Among the higher-priced drugs to be
found in the list which are used for med
icines Is carpaine, at a dollar a grain or
s4So an ounce at wholesale, or carpaine
hydrochlOrate, at the same price Carpaine
Is used in cases of mitral insufficiency, and
administered in doses of only a fifth or a
third of a grain What the retail price of
this would be sold under prescription is a
matter OF conjecture. The drug is sold to
the retailer in ffteen-grain walls at SO.
AT the same rate comes cornutine citrate
which has the same uses as cornutine that
sells al S1i for fifteen grains. Cornutine is
In the form OF a reddish mass of fesh-coI-
cred powder. obtained from ergot and bv
some said to be the true active princinIe
OF ergot- 1t is used in certain henOrrhares
and for other purposes in very small doses
III some cases as low as one-twentieth of a
grain a day.
Lithium, used IN chronic rheumatism is
quoted at 81 for fifteen grains, or S256 an
ounce Yet Ethium classed as q soft metal
the ughtest solid element, is found in sea
water and in the water of most rivers and
surface springs and in most mineral
waters.
Homatropine. at So for fifteen grains, is