Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-01-21
PLANT COST ONLY $4,000

Chicago, Jan. IA municipal lab
oratory for the manufacture of anti
toxin under the supervision of public
chemists may be the outcome of the
campaign which has been instituted
by the Chicago Medical society
against the high price eNacted by the
manufacturers combine,
AT a conference of officers OF the or
sanitation the feasibility of the
scheme was discussed in detail, The
result was the decision to refer the
matter for final action to another
meeting with tho recommendation
that the plan be adopted as the perma.
nent solution Of the problem, II the
approval of the society is obtained
some aldermen will be asked to intro
duce an ordinance creating the lab.
loratory and making the necessary ap-
preparation for its foundation and
maintenance.
The arbitrary advance of prices of
one of the essentials of the modern
treatment of diphtheria is held by the
physicians to show that provision tor
the constant supply of the article de-
wolves upon the municipality as a
public health The high price now
placed on the serum by the only three
firms in the country which manufac-
ture it means that thousands of chill
dren may perish in the first diphtheria
epidemic which appears in the city,
IT was estimate, by the medical so
ciety officials that municipal labora'
tory could be established with an ap.
preparation of S20,09o, and $4,000 for
the operating expenses the first year,
II is believed that the institution could
be made self.supporting in the course
of three or four years. All kinds OF
serums, including vaccine, would be
manufactured and sold not only tC
consumers in Chicago but in all partt
of the state. In Newark, n. j., where
the municipal experiment has been
tried, the cost of antitoxin Is not more
than 50 cents a dosage, The price
charged by the trust is 81 a dosage
The three houses which control the
present antitoXfn output are Stearns
of Cleveland, milford OF Philadelphia
and Parke Davis & Go. of Detroit
MIR. Davis win come TO Chicago to de
fend his firm against the allegations
that an anIitoXin trust had beer
formed Tie declared that the serum
sold now is The grade formerly demon
mate concentrated, and that the
price is the same as always.
III the contention of Mr.. Davis is
true said Secretary Wills, the Sc
Everest criticism OF the serum firms
! would be, not that they had formed !
j combine, but that they mad ceased tC
manufacture the cheaper grades o.
lantfroxin. The proper policy there
! fore would be to take steps to secure
the renewal of the preparation Of thu
othgr CRATES. Bun my belief is that
the present prodHct is not the con
centrated. although sol0 at the price
of that grade
The officers 81 the society are IN
dressed with the Feasibility Of n nun
icipai laboratory. There Es now no gov
eminent supervision OF any kind II
The preparation Of SO important med
real essential as artitoxiri, In this W.
are far behind foreign countries
Where the serum II made under mum
eipal and often nationai inspection
AS far as the private FIRMS are ron
cprneH | believe that they will recedt
from their position. The sentimer
of physicians throughout the cuontrJ
is now arrayei against the men wht
have advanced the price If antItUxn
Tfa effect viii be a natural disCrimin
atun against these firms in other srti
Giles which they sell ~ the profession
ana | think the pressure w.I have IN,
Iasj4rad affppt -